I am wrapping up my Chemical Dependency Specialty and continue to learn more about the effects alcohol has on the family unit.  Some interesting facts I recently learned include how clients can use therapy as a way of staying in the denial process.  Therapy can be harmful to a couple battling addiction if the therapist does not specialize in addiction.  I have witnessed an addict attempt to rationalize behavior in an attempt to reach a  compromise to continue his addictive behavior.  When the therapist heard the clients perspective she joined the client and attempted to find a compromise for his behavior.  This compromise resulted in regressing the couples progress back many steps.  Addicts need clear boundaries and compromises result in the behavior continuing down a destructive path. Co-dependents need to learn to make requests and define and claim their own boundaries.  What is the co-dependent willing and unwilling to accept?