Case 8 - The Case of George W.

George w., a thirty-six-year-old white male, was referred for therapy by the courts. Following his third conviction for driving while intoxicated, George had been sentenced to a six-month stay in a work-release program. Therapy was required as part of his participation in that program.

George began using alcohol when he was fourteen years old and had been drinking excessively since that time. His father, his maternal grandfather, and two of his three brothers all abused alcohol. George had been married to his second wife for two years and had a one-year-old child. his first marriage had ended in divorce four years earlier, partly because his wife would no longer tolerate George's drinking. He had maintained contact with his two children from that marriage.

George was employed as a supervisor for a construction firm. He had been with the same company for over ten years and had a good work record. He consumed little alcohol during the day, but on most evenings he would begin drinking beer as soon as he returned home from work, and he also drank on most weekends. He had tried to stop drinking on his own repeatedly and had been alcohol free for six months when he married his present wife. However, he stated that financial difficulties associated with the birth of their child led him to resume drinking. George reported frequent weekend episodes of binge drinking and occasional blackouts. He said that his wife was unhappy about his drinking and expressed disappointment that they never went out; but sincee she was always absorbed in caring for the baby, he did not believe going out mattered any more to her than it did to him.

George reported some mild depression and stated that he was very shy and never felt comfortable around people. Alcohol had helped him feel more self-confident, so that he was able to establish relationships with a group of male peers who also drank to excess. The possibility of an underlying avoidant personality disorder was considered. Otherwise, George's difficulties all seemed related to his alcohol use.