Alcoholism Recovery & Treatment

I have been receiving counseling via group therapy for alcohol issues. The counselor (private clinic, paid for by my insurance), is a big time Alcoholics Anonymous supporter and a member himself. At all the sessions I attend, he pushes AA (and NA and CA) on the patients. I’ve been going to group for a couple of months now and have begun to wonder what all the fuss is about, so I asked for some local meeting addresses. I’ve never been big on the “higher power” concept that is prevalent in AA. It’s a big turnoff. I am not religious and it seems like AA is geared towards people who are religious in one way or another, and it really seems skewed toward Judeo-Christian beliefs.
I’ve done a bunch of research on it and I don’t like what I’ve been reading. Is there an alternative to the 12 Steps? I’ve stopped drinking and been sober for 4 months now with really no cravings and very little desire to drink, except in some social situations, such a bars, etc., which I frankly try to avoid right now, since I find them to be pretty boring.
My question is for those people out there that have experience in one way or another with AA. Is is a “cult”? Why do you think so? If you think it’s helpful, why? If you think it doesn’t promote change, or is actually harmful, why?
My treatment is court-ordered and I have reason to believe that my counselor doesn’t think I’ve remained sober all this time, mainly because I’m not active in AA. I get the feeling that the counselor thinks I’m lying to him about not drinking. It is difficult for me to make it to meetings, as I work full time, have a husband who is a full time student and also have 2 dogs that need to potty after a long day stuck in the house. I also take the bus, so getting to a meeting outside my immediate area would take ages. I’ve been doing well on my own, and really am only interested in meeting some people to hang out with that don’t drink alcohol, since so many people’s lives in my area revolve around it and the local bars, etc.
Thanks in advance!

Dauan (Far North Queensland) Support Services?
I am looking for Information on Support Services in Aurukun in Far North Queensland, but am coming up empty handed. Any Names of Centres, Websites and contact Numbers on the following would be appreciated
-Crisis Accomodation
-Counselling
-Advocacy
-Drug and Alcohol Assistance
-Mental Health
-Domestic Violence

Lately I been feeling like my head wants to explode, my boyfriend and I of 5.5 years have been going to counseling. He has been suffering form depression and alcohol abuse for awhile and is trying to overcome it. We go to premarital counseling together every other week, and on the weeks off, he goes by himself. This sounds great, but it really isn’t. Since he started counseling at first he was worse than ever and was overally emotional, and I felt annoyed. Now he just drinks too much after every counseling appoint with or without me. I am afraid that he is falling back into his old habits of drinking every other day and spending every day with his friends.
Every since he started his counseling I have lost more and more patience and finally I just felt like giving up on him. I made him leave and told him I needed space for a few days to clear my head, and get out of my negative, short temper I began to pick up.
He left three days ago and hasn’t tried to contact me. I know he is hurt since he kept telling me that he didn’t want to take a break that long, but I felt it was necessary for me.
What do I do now? SHould I try to contact him, or will it push him away more? How do I Comfort him, and let him know that it was just a break and that I am not questioning how I feel about him at all?

I am looking for Information on Support Services in Aurukun in Far North Queensland, but am coming up empty handed. Any Names of Centres, Websites and contact Numbers on the following would be appreciated
- Crisis Accomodation
-Counselling
Advocacy
-Drug and Alcohol Assistance
-Mental Health
-Domestic Violence

Rocket French or Bust

Douglas (Far North Queensland) Support Services?
I am looking for Information on Support Services in Aurukun in Far North Queensland, but am coming up empty handed. Any Names of Centres, Websites and contact Numbers on the following would be appreciated
-Crisis Accomodation
-Counselling
-Advocacy
-Drug and Alcohol Assistance
-Mental Health
-Domestic Violence