Researchers and counselors have found that parenting children is a substantial task for recovering, alcohol-dependent, single mothers, especially during early recovery stages. Many of these mothers expect to instantly become perfect parents once they achieve even the smallest semblance of abstinence, and failure to meet this expectation often results in anxiety, frustration and relapse. Solution-focused counseling emphasizes competence, strengths and possibilities rather than deficits, weaknesses and limitations of the client; significant emphasis is placed on a client's potential to bring about change. The intervention model described in this article begins with clarification, elaboration, and amplification of the client's perceived parenting strengths and resources. Next the client and her family set realistically attainable time-specific goals as well as session-specific goals. As each goal is established, the family is encouraged to identify and initiate new behaviors that will lead to that goal. References