Lyimo, Christopher Nduhiu2024-07-172024-07-172023-10Lyimo, C. N., (2023). Lived Experiences of Recovering Alcoholics and Family Dynamics: A Study on Members of Alcoholics Anonymous in Nairobi County, Kenya: Daystar University, School of Applied Human Scienceshttps://repository.daystar.ac.ke/handle/123456789/4753MASTER OF ARTS in Counseling PsychologyThis study explored the family dynamics of members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) before and during their recovery from alcoholism. The purpose of the study was to describe the recovering alcoholic’s relationship with the family during harmful alcohol use; to identify the family factors which contributed to successful intervention for alcoholics; to investigate the experience of family relationships of recovering alcoholics; and to interpret the lived experience of the participants. The target population was members of AA residing in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study adopted an interpretative phenomenological analysis design. The sample selected four adults – two females and two males - who have been sober for at least one year, from several WhatsApp groups exclusive to AA members. The researcher conducted in-depth interviews using semi-structured open-ended questions, and transcribed and analyzed with Otter.ai and Nvivo data analysis software respectively. The key themes were family background, early experiences and circumstances that contributed to the alcoholism; intervention by family members; the onset of recovery and the role of the AA program in improved family relationships. The key findings were that family circumstances were in disarray during active alcohol use, that intervention is a process, that AA works for those following the program, and that there was a marked shift in family dynamics during recovery. The study recommends the empowerment of families of alcoholics, robust family treatment plans at rehabilitation centres, and theorization of the Alcoholics Anonymous twelve-step philosophy in mainstream psychology.enALCOHOLICSFamily Members of Alcoholics Anonymous in Nairobi CountyKenyaLived Experiences of Recovering AlcoholicsThesis