One of the major obstacles in treating alcoholism is that few want to be identified as struggling with that condition [some refer to such as condition as a disease.] Yet, I have never yet met anyone who is in such a pickle not admit they are "having a problem with alcohol." Why can't the researchers, theorists, hands-on caregivers, and insurance companies just leave it at that: problem with alcohol.
Effective therapists enter this tricky space with clients by suggesting that they experiment with controlling their drinking. If they can control it, then the abuse might have been simply unaware stress behavior. Once they become aware and realize that they should be controlling how much they drink, when, and where then they might attend to modifying their lives.
If clients can't control it, then therapists worth their salt suggest they might try a formal treatment program for problem drinking. The term alcoholism is rarely introduced. After all, does putting a label on an entity accelerate treatment? In this case, probably not.
Why can't we all develop a mindset about having a problem with drinking. That will motivate more folks to examine if they do and then consider ways of solving it.
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