Before I became an addictions counselor four years ago, I thought of myself as one of this planet’s least creative individuals. Now, by relating experiences in terms of their application to a life dedicated to personal growth, health, and recovery, I have discovered a hidden store of creativity that enables me to provide a rich source of humor to my clients.

My self-imposed prison walls, spawned by this belief that I lacked creativity, came tumbling down one morning in 1999, as I was facilitating a psychoeducational addictions treatment group at the Southeastern (CT) Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.

We were discussing the topic of how clients have the opportunity to make healthier choices in recovery than in the throes of active addiction. The hand of a 70-plus-year-old male client shot up like a kindergartner’s on the first day of school. “Oh, oh,” Jack said. “I have an example. I recently was leaving a meeting at the soup kitchen in downtown Norwich when I literally almost ran into two guys with whom I used to get high.”

“That’s interesting,” I said. “How would you have handled that situation if you were still using?” Jack responded, “No doubt I would have asked them what they had and where we could go use it.” “And instead?” I queried. “Instead, I told them I was in recovery going from one 12-Step meeting to another and ‘see you later.’”

At that moment my noncreative mind flashed right to the scene in the animated movie classic “Pinocchio” (Disney, 1940) when the famous puppet with no strings had been freed by his fairy Godmother from imprisonment in Stromboli’s birdcage. Telling my clients about my recollection, we discussed Pinocchio’s intention to go to school and how he gets sidetracked.

That sparked debate about the role of intention versus the ability to follow through with plans to embrace a healthier lifestyle — in other words, talking the talk and walking the proverbial walk.
That evening, I plugged my 10-year-old daughter’s copy of “Pinocchio” into the VCR, fast-forwarded it to the scene I had recounted for my clients and became amazed! The 10-minute segment beginning with Pinocchio verbalizing to his conscience, Jiminy Cricket, the intention to go to school instead of becoming an actor is replete with addiction and recovery symbols.

First, Felonious Fox convinces Pinocchio that he is “allergic.” At the end, Pinocchio takes the proverbial leap of faith, at Jiminy’s behest, into the ocean. We discussed how it symbolized the rebirth, transformation, and new life awaiting one in early recovery who can be successful in embracing 12-Step recovery. We also discussed how Pinocchio had to have faith in Jiminy, who also could be viewed as a sponsor or Higher Power, to follow through with the suggestion to make the leap into the water below.

A few years ago, I had this grandiose idea that I was meant to get certain messages about recovery to a larger audience through motivational speaking or the penning of the next great recovery book. A week later, I was asked to speak to about 100 minimum-security inmates at a prison in Uncasville, Connecticut. Viewing the “Pinocchio” segment yielded written feedback from the group ranging from: “I related to the fact that peer pressure and fun are not all its cracked up to be and sooner or later it comes to an end” to “I drink beer and turn into a JACKASS” and “I did the same thing at 16-years-old. I found fun and attention in the streets and 18 years later I am a complete a%#*@^$, but I have a chance once again to change.”

What is the applicability of this and other artistic material to one’s recovery efforts? Explore and discover the diverse interpretations. Like me, you may be surprised how engaged your clients become when you tap into the store of your own creativity.

Thomas M. Greaney, MEd, LADC ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) is the Primary Counselor of the Southeastern (CT) Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Intensive Outpatient Program. He is chairperson of the CT Certification Board’s Communication Committee.

This article is published in Counselor,The Magazine for Addiction Professionals, June 2004, v.5, n.3, p. 63.

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