Group Counseling with Alcohol Offenders

Abstract

Abstract This report describes the inception and evolution of a fourteen month project providing group counseling to men and women offenders placed on probation after conviction for driving while intoxicated (DWI). Modifications of group counseling techniques, necessitated by the “involuntary” nature of members' participation, are described. Some generalizations are presented concerning social psychological components of drinking and driving while intoxicated. Two models of those convicted of DWI are proposed. The first model distinguishes salient characteristics of occasional, social and “problem” drinkers. The second identifies and discusses various group participant roles, e.g., the “elder statesman,” the “missionary,” the “old timer,” the “injusticecollector,” etc. Each role represents both an expressive “voice” for others in the group and an aspect of the total group dynamic. Ideas are offered for further study of alcohol abusers who develop DWI records. Suggestions are presented for enhancing the ef...