Abstract
Recovering helpers play an increasing role in addiction treatment. In this study, we assessed the process of how addicts become recovering helpers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six recovering helpers, and the transcribed interviews were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four turning points were identified during the interviews: starting using drugs or gambling, becoming an addict, hitting bottom, and becoming a helper. In addition, four themes related to being a helper were identified: the recovering self and the helping self, the wounded helper, the skilled helper and the experience of helping. Understanding the dynamics and background of recovering helpers’ work may contribute to their training, to finding the most appropriate place for them in addiction treatment, and in drug and alcohol policy.
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Declaration of Conflict of Interest
József Rácz declares no conflict of interest.
Szilvia Kassai declares no conflict of interest.
Judit Nóra Pintér declares no conflict of interest.
Piroska Benedeczki declares no conflict of interest.
Zita Dobó-Nagy declares no conflict of interest.
Zsófia Horváth declares no conflict of interest.
V. Anna Gyarmathy declares no conflict of interest.
Informed Consent
All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000 (5). Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.
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Rácz, J., Kassai, S., Pintér, J.N. et al. The Therapeutic Journeys of Recovering Helpers – an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Int J Ment Health Addiction 13, 751–757 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-015-9560-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-015-9560-3