Page 193 [193]
82 = USING INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
(Bill, 1939). This element of the AA program has a double aim. It is the part of
the programs mission (“...we tried to carry this message to alcoholics...” - 12"
step of the 12-step program’) and helping others has beneficial effect on psy¬
chological well-being, it could facilitate healing by improving confidence,
self-awareness, self-esteem, role functioning of the provider (Schwartz & Sendor,
1999). On the other hand, these acts (helping others who has a problem with
addiction and being in recovery from addiction) could complete each other
well because both reflect on the experiences of being addicted. The helper also
could get many triggers from their patients addiction story, and by using these
triggers, the helper could work on his/her own recovery even if he/she is an
active listener (and his/her role is only “being there”) in the helping session.
It was apparent in Study 1 that for individuals who are in recovery being
in recovery is a process (which is also described by the literature (Laudet,
2007)). The process nature of this experience and identity change is supported
and formed by recovery narratives which are constantly under construction
even in the present. (The most common recovery narratives are the AA nar¬
ratives. In AA groups participants could learn narrative patterns that are
preconstructed by group members in which a descending and a hitting bot¬
tom and then ascending pattern are also included (Koski-Jannes, 2002; Larkin
& Griffiths, 2002; J. McIntosh & McKeganey, 2001)). Give meaning to both
onerous (such as addiction) and positive experiences (such as being a helper)
by incorporating them into a coherent life narrative is a proper way of pro¬
cessing experiences (Kim, 2015). In Study 1 becoming a helper was also a
crucial part of the process of recovery and it often appeared in the life narra¬
tives as another “turning point” by which participants could find the “mean¬
ing” of life, a meaningful role and meaningful identity what they “always
meant to be” (which are key elements of recovery (Terry & Cardwell, 2015)).
Therefore, the “recovering helper identity” appears as a parallel identity to the
recovery identity (Figure 5.).
The work of the recovering helpers could be beneficial in institutions where
recovery approach, especially the Minnesota Model (which is based upon the
principles of AA) is being used (Cook, 1988). Our study findings suggest that
a therapeutic session could strengthen the recovery process of both the client
and the recovering helper, therefore, it could be considered as a two-persons
variant of a self-help group, where the shared burden of fighting against ad¬
diction could mean an active link between client and provider.
° See: https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/about-aa/the-12-steps-of-aa