Helping Women Recover

Stephanie S. Covington, PhD, LCSW, is a nationally recognized clinician, author, and organizational consultant noted for her pioneering work on women's issues. She has over twenty-five years of experience in the design and implementation of treatment services for women and is recognized for her work in both the public and private sectors. For the past fifteen years, Dr. Covington has worked to help institutions and programs in the criminal justice system develop effective gender-responsive services. She has provided training, technical assistance, and consulting services to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the National Institute of Corrections, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, the Correctional Service of Canada, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and many state and local jurisdictions.

Preface vii

Acknowledgments xiii

1 Introduction to Substance-Abuse Treatment for Women 1

Women in the Criminal Justice System: Who They Are 2

Historical Background: Why a Woman’s Treatment Program? 6

What We Have Learned 9

Fundamentals of Gender-Responsive Services 16

Integration 36

The Value of Twelve Step Programs and Other Mutual-Help Groups 37

Research on Helping Women Recover 39

2 Facilitating the Program 43

Organization and Content of the Program 44

Principles of an Effective Treatment Program 50

The Role of the Facilitator 56

Module A: Self 63

1. Defining Self 69

2. Sense of Self 87

3. Self-Esteem 97

4. Sexism, Racism, and Stigma 107

Module B: Relationships 123

5. Family of Origin 127

6. Mothers 151

7. Mother Myths 159

8. Interpersonal Violence 173

9. Creating Healthy Relationships and Support Systems 189

Module C: Sexuality 205

10. Sexuality and Substance Abuse 213

11. Body Image 235

12. Sexual Identity 249

13. Sexual Abuse 263

14. Fear of Sex While Clean and Sober 281

Module D: Spirituality 291

15. What Is Spirituality? 295

16. Prayer and Meditation 307

17. Creating a Vision 317

Appendix: Additional Recovery Resources 327

I. Five Primary Practices of the Oxford Group 328

II. The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous 329

III. A.A. Slogans 330

IV. A Letter from Carl Jung to Bill Wilson 331

V. The Serenity Prayer 333

VI. The Synanon Prayer 334

VII. The Sixteen Steps for Discovery and Empowerment (Charlotte Kasl) 335

VIII. A New Version of the Twelve Steps (David Berenson) 337

IX. Thirteen Statements of Affirmation or Acceptance (Women For Sobriety) 338

X. SMART Recovery® 339

XI. Save Our Selves/(SOS) 340

References 341

Gender-Responsive Resource Materials 351

The Author 355

Index 357

Feedback Form 367