The alcoholic is caught up in a life threatening course of compulsive self destructive behavior which he is powerless to stop on his own. In this paper theories are advanced positing psychological and social forces predisposing the individual to have to hurt himself. It is therefore the therapist's job to represent life to the person, and to communicate it effectively. The paper describes how and why the therapist must creatively design interventions which will grab the patient's attention, and kindle an interest in living and behaving accordingly.