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2.
THE THERAPEUTIC JOURNEYS OF
RECOVERING HELPERS — AN INTERPRETATIVE
PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS (STUDY 1)
2.1. INTRODUCTION
Recovering helpers already existed in the 19th century in hospitals or in other
rehabilitation centers in the US. Currently, about 37-75 % of helpers in the USA
are recovering users (Knudsen et al., 2006; McNulty et al., 2007). Often they
work within the frameworks of the Minnesota method (also known as the 12¬
step program) (White, 2000a, 2000b). Motivation is a very significant factor in
helpers’ lives: their life is a role, which helps other drug users to recover.
Adopting a new identity is a very important aspect in the recovery process
(Baker, 2000; Hanninen & Koski-Jannes, 1999; Hecksher, 2004; Koski-Jannes,
1998, 2002; James McIntosh, 2014; J. McIntosh & McKeganey, 2000, 2001). In
this stage, drug users have turning points - especially when users hit bottom
after a downhill spiral - which help them reconstruct the meaning and struc¬
ture of their lives, rethink their lives and thereby change their futures (Kos¬
ki-Jannes, 1998, 2002). New experiences and relationships are essential when
starting a new life. Identity in this regard has two aspects: social and private.
Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) is a method that helps to
describe and understand people’s identity, whereby the researcher interprets
how participants interpret their own lives (Smith et al., 2009; Smith & Osborn,
2007). An advantage of IPA is the ability to connect between different con¬
ceptions, to share with each other emotions, spiritual thinking, and moral
awareness. The goal of this analysis was to assess the process of how addicts
become recovering helpers by utilizing IPA.
2.2. METHODS
The study was conducted in two drug rehabilitation centers involving five
male and one female professional recovering helpers who have been in recov¬
ery for at least 5 years, four of them working as helpers for at least 10 years
and two for 1 year. Each helper participated in a semi-structured interview
that lasted for about an hour. Questions assessed experiences as users, during
the recovery process and while working as helpers. Common themes and