MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS' 12-STEP REFERRAL PRACTICES WITH DUALLY DIAGNOSED CLIENTS

Abstract

This study examines mental health clinicians’ beliefs about dually diagnosed clients’ self-efficacy and capacity for recovery and attitudes toward and referrals to traditional 12-step groups for such clients. Clinicians evidence moderate confidence in dually diagnosed clients’ self-efficacy and capacity for recovery, positive attitudes toward 12-step groups, but rarely refer dually diagnosed clients to traditional 12-step groups. Clinicians’ beliefs that dually diagnosed clients were unlikely to achieve total recovery are associated with less frequent 12-step referrals. Findings support the need for a dualfocus 12-step group that addresses both substance use and mental health disorders—such as Double Trouble in Recovery (DTR)—and the importance of staff training on client empowerment for recovery, including 12-step utilization. *This study was funded by NIDA Grant #R01DAO15912 (PI: S. Magura).