Rational Recovery for alcoholism is a low-cost program. It’s available through the internet as well as through books and videos. It uses cognitive therapy to help individuals achieve abstinence permanently.

Rational Recovery uses sound psychological principles. So research has also shown that it works. It’s also effective for other behaviors.

Rational Recovery is not a 12-step program. It does not

• • Have any “steps.”
  • Require spiritual or religious belief. But it’s not anti-religious.
  • Consider addiction to be a disease.
  • Believe alcoholics are powerless over alcohol.
  • Consider former alcoholics to be “recovering alcoholics.” Rational Recovery views recovery itself as an event. That is, it’s not a considered a life-long process.

Addictive Voice Recognition Technique

Meetings are unnecessary. That’s because Rational Recovery teaches people how to overcome their desire for alcohol or drugs themselves. They do it themselves and on their own. People learn how to use Addictive Voice Recognition Technique (AVRT).

Licensed clinician Jack Tripney and his wife, Lois Tripney. They co-developed Rational Recovery in 1986. He is the author of

• The Art of AVRT Addictive Voice Recognition Technique.
•  Greater expectations! DVD video.
•  Addictive Voice Recognition Technique: AVRT. VHS video.
• Rational Recovery is an Effective Self-Help Program. In: Barbour, S. (Ed.) Alcohol. Pp. 135–143.
• Rational Recovery. The New Cure for Substance Addiction.
• (With Tripney, L.) Taming the Feast Beast. NY: Dell, 1996.
• AVRT in a nutshell. J Rational Recov, 6(2), 1-3.
• The Final Fix for Alcohol and Drug Addiction. AVRT, Addictive Voice Recognition Technique. Lotus, CA: Lotus Press, 1994.
• Step zero. Addiction voice recognition technique. J Rational Recov, 6(1), 5-7.
• Take it from here! Audiobook.
• (With Tripney, L.) Rational Recovery from Fatness.

Tripney asserts that “Addiction recovery is secure, permanent abstinence. Nothing else. No issues, no shrinks, no groups, no rehabs. You just quit, then learn the ability to stick to that decision under all conditions.”

Rational Recovery for alcoholism may be helpful to you or a loved one.

Resources

Readings

• • Adair, M. Alcoholics Anonymous and Rational Recovery. Opposing Philosophies for Differing Personalities. M.A. thesis, Ottawa U.
  • Beck, A., et al. Cognitive Therapy for Substance Abuse.
  • Fisher, G. and Roget, N. Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment, & Recovery.
  • Fox, V. Addiction, Change & Choice. 
  • Galanter, M., et al. Rational Recovery. Alternative to AA for Addiction. Am J Drug Alc Abuse, 19(4), 499–510.
  • Schmidt, E. Node-Link Mapping and Rational Recovery. Enhancing the Recovery Process. Ed.D. diss. U. North Texas.
  • Schmidt, E., et al. Assessing the efficacy of Rational Recovery in the treatment of alcohol/drug dependency. Alc Treat Q, 19(1), 97-106.

Note

• • Neither this site nor your host receives any benefit from describing Rational Recovery. Description does not imply endorsement.