Father Dowling was Bill's friend and Spiritual Advisor.

Father Edward Dowling, S.J., the Roman Catholic priest who worked closely with Bill and Dr. Bob in formulating the Steps and the Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. Father Dowling was Bill's friend and Spiritual Advisor.

Bill W. struggled with depression and looked for help outside of the Twelve Steps. Bill began psychotherapy and began a friendship with Father Ed Dowling. This changed Bill's perspective on the Steps and his understanding of recovery. As a result of this relationship with Dowling and his understanding of phychoanalytic treatment Bill changes his views on recovery. Bill adopts a Psychological View of recovery instead of the Religious Conversion principles he had once thought. This was important as Bill wrote The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions after changing to this viewpoint.