The present study aimed to investigate therapeutic use of self, a phenomenon fundamental to the practice of addictions nursing, not previously studied extensively in clinical practice. Since addictions nurses rely heavily upon therapeutic communication, therapeutic use of self represents an important area for inquiry.

Settings such as inpatient substance abuse units provide an arena for examining the nurse's response to maladaptive interpersonal coping styles exhibited by addicted clients in early recovery. This period may present special challenges for nurses who interact with clients because of the difficulty for the latter to cope initially without addicting chemicals.

Critical Incidents, interviews, field notes, and demographic questionnaires were used to elicit descriptions of clinical practice from a purposeful sample of five expert addictions nurses. Giorgi's (1985) phenomenological methodology for data analysis was employed.

Five major themes emerged from the data analysis: (1) collaborating with others to form a therapeutic system, (2) presencing oneself, (3) personal knowing through reflection, (4) empathizing through shared personal trauma and recovery and (5) making a difference through mutual growth and development. Subthemes included risking self, establishing and maintaining boundaries, establishing mutual trust and modeling recovery.

It was concluded that therapeutic use of self with the addicted client in early recovery is holistic, existential and interpersonal in nature, facilitated through the characteristics explicated in the study themes. Discussion of the themes also examined the potential for less than therapeutic outcomes with addicted clients. It was also noted that therapeutic use of self depends upon the nurse's attention to her own growth and development, and that the trauma experienced within dysfunctional family systems has a profound effect upon therapeutic use of self.