T4Recovery and Support Groups

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Grand Canyon University *

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501

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Arts Humanities

Date

Jan 9, 2024

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docx

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Uploaded by MagistrateClover24465

1 Recovery and Support Groups Kirsten L. Gabbard College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Grand Canyon University CNL-501: Substance Use Disorders and Addictions Professor Thomas November 29, 2023

2 Recovery and Support Groups There are over forty six million people that are over the age of twelve that meet the criteria laid out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of having a substance use disorder (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2013b). Although there are plenty of people who struggle with addiction, it can feel like one of the loneliest places on earth. Too often people put on a mask that they use to hide themselves and others from the reality they are living. The week before thanksgiving, I attended a Celebrate Recovery Meeting with a friend at Crossroads Church in Kokomo Indiana to look at how the members may be hiding behind masks as they work through their addiction. During the support group meeting I made observations that are going to be laid out in the following paper. Celebrate Recovery Celebrate Recovery was created when John Baker described how God had healed a man through his recovery process and how sharing that principle will help others through their recovery (Celebrate Recovery, 2023). From the very first meeting in 1991 in California, Celebrate Recovery has maintained a faith based program that usually takes place in churches (Celebrate Recovery, 2023). The group even opened with a prayer and reading of a passage from the book John Baker wrote. This week's main topic was on the mask of denial and there were members that felt inclined to share their own versions of how that mask has prevented their recovery. Members A man that was quiet and looked as though he did not want to actually be at the meeting, absolutely captivated me with his story. He spoke about how he was new to the path of walking with the Lord and that most of the closest people he knew would call him a “dead beat” which

3 made him feel that there was no real pressure to change. As he gained faith, he began to wear a mask because he felt shame when people were pouring into him. He is new to the recovery process and his goals during sobriety are to stay grounded in the church as well as the be more of an active participant in his children's lives. A young mom spoke after and cried as she told her story on how she uses her tattoos as masks. She used them to portray herself as the tough girl but once she started walking with the Lords, she quickly learned that she was sensitive and resilient. She still finds her life very challenging and is often angry with God during different seasons as she tries to recover from the drugs, her past and struggles for a better future for her children. She continues to stay sober and prove herself by leaning on others in her life when she needs help. Referrals Most clients will visit their counselor for guidance and support once a week for about an hour. After that, there are still one hundred sixty seven hours left where they could slip up or require additional support. Finding the support of a group in their community is an important aspect to a person working their way toward recovery. Support services can be used before, in conjunction with or after a client receives clinical treatment or by someone who does not ever receive clinical treatment but seeks the support of others ( Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2023a). Every individual's clients walk through the recovery process looks different but every single one is built on resilience and the ability to learn how to cope with the struggles of life so that they do not go back into addiction. Support groups are a place where the client can be helped and guided by others who have been through similar experiences when they are not in a treatment center or when their counselor is unavailable. It can also be a space where they can feel held accountable. The client's recovery is built on the strengths, coping abilities, talents, inherent values and resources that are available to them (Substance Abuse and

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