Please sign this Petition

This petition was initiated because we saw a pattern with LCSWs and healthcare workers sending people to AA even when it was completely inappropriate, and even claiming it was their right to do it. Organizations like Samaritan Counseling Center of the Capital Region seem to force even their Clinical Director (who’s also on the state licensing board), who said she was not a fan of the 12-steps, to refer people to coercive 12-step interventionists, no discussion allowed, even after the client told them repeatedly this is not helpful. There are three possible causes for this:

1. Pure ignorance and blind faith – No longer acceptable because they have been notified.
2. Coercion within the industry / financial conflicts of interest (‘do it this way because I run this counseling center’) – Also not legal to intimidate licensed trained professionals in their job duties like this
3. As a way to blame mishandled transference on the client – Which would be the sickest explanation for a sex therapist / supervisor / pastor/ Executive Director to prefer 12-step coercion among both clients and supervisees.

Samaritan Counseling Center’s 12-step ‘preference’ seems to be based on a combination of 2 and 3.