Go To Closed Meetings

Some concerns I have for this client involve the use of drugs, the use of marijuana and cocaine as a “recreational” use. The client is aware that alcohol is a problem but does not see the other type of drugs as a problem; I will like to talk more about the use of this drugs. According to the client history, the suicidal attempts were influenced by the use of drugs.

My first experience at an alcoholics anonymous meeting was very interesting and in a way uplifting. At All Saints Lutheran Church the home group called “The Young People’s Group” there were people who had come from all walks of life. The group meeting that I thought would have been rather small slowly became larger and larger over the course of the night. I was unaware that the AA meetings had been setup with a set of codes or rules for those who struggle every day to fight this addiction. They allowed people who were new or if it was their first meeting to introduce themselves and tell their story to the fight of addiction related to alcohol. I was really impressed with the fact that the AA groups have an awards system for reaching

The purpose of this research paper was to attend two support group meetings and share my experiences. The meetings that were to be attended were an Alcoholics Anonymous

I did not wish to interrupt the natural flow of the meeting with my presence. However, that is exactly what occurred highlighting to me a duality in why AA can be both helpful and harmful depending ton the individual. One member spoke during the open testimony about his desire to only attend meetings with people that have 20 plus years of sobriety because he finds a newcomer to be distrustful to his experience in the group. During his five-minute monologue, it became clear to myself and other group members that he did not appreciate me observing his meeting. As other members spoke after him, he became increasingly agitated in his movements. When the group paused to collect the donations, he left the meeting and did not return. That experience highlighted the negative aspects of AA because the open honesty could be damaging or discouraging to newcomers. I tried to imagine myself a newcomer to AA, seeking treatment for something that I may not fully understand myself. After hearing his dismissal of newcomers and everyone under 20 years sobriety that feeling of “otherness” in a newcomer could push them to not return. Therefore eliminating the AA support for

I noticed that the participants did not look like what I perceived someone who was suffering from alcohol dependence would look like. They looked like productive law-abiding citizens. I am embarrassed to say that it never occurred to me that these individuals could live positive lives while battling alcoholism. I assumed that they would be dysfunctional and incapable to participate in the meeting. Instead many of them looked healthy and were eager to engage in the group discussion.

Lastly, the chairperson recounted her own personal story with addiction. I was surprised how the group handled her story in a positive way. I noticed at times members laughed and even smiled and others making brief supporting comments. Rather than judge the events of her life, the group members seemed to connect in a personal way. I liked how the meeting was honest and open. Afterwards different members of the meeting read brief AA literature, "How it Works," the "Twelve Traditions" and "The Promises." I listened to each of them very closely

Attending a local Alcoholics Anonymous meeting was a humbling and informative experience. To be completely honest, I had no idea what to expect going into the meeting. Right before I walked in, I felt somewhat uncomfortable and embarrassed. I felt as if I was intruding on someone’s personal life with my presence, even though I knew I was welcomed since the meeting was listed as “open”. Alcohol abuse is a very sensitive topic to me, as someone quite close to me is an alcoholic: my Uncle. I know that he is a recovering alcoholic, but I never quite know what is going on with him because I don’t ask questions and he never shares what he is feeling with me. When I was younger, I remember that he was always the life of my family parties, but I know now it was because he was drunk. When I see him now, he isn’t as energetic as he used to be and often avoids situations where alcohol is involved. Although my Uncle did not personally tell me, my father has shared with me that he attends AA meetings at a church in my hometown. I never understood what AA meetings really entail and didn’t grasp how they helped alcoholics recover. Attending this local AA meeting helped shed light on what my Uncle feels, and I am more understanding to his addiction. I am thankful for this assignment because I know that my Uncle is not alone; the AA community is so supportive and the members all have the best intentions of getting

When I arrived they had coffee and refreshments open to anyone which i found thoughtful and a good way to get people talking. I saw mainly people with families there who seemed to be going for support. I was still a little apprehensive going by myself as a student and at the time did not feel open to sharing. A man came to the front and stated he is the speaker for this meeting and welcomed us to an open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. The meeting began with a moment of silence for those who are sick and a prayer. After the prayer the speaker spoke

Introduction. I decided I wanted to visit an Alcoholics Anonymous group meeting in my local area. It would be a new experience for me because I have never been to that type of meeting before in my life. I had only heard of A.A. and the support groups they offer throughout the world. They offer meetings in every state of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and in some International countries (United States Alcoholics Anonymous). The meeting I attended consisted of about forty-three people, both men and women. The only type of meeting I had ever been to in my life was either church related or business related. I chose to go to this type of meeting for three reasons; I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, I have never been around anyone with substance abuse, and I wanted to see the other side of the spectrum to gain some insights from a different perspective. I am in Human Services for the purpose of helping others in need. I can better help people if I become knowledgeable in the areas where they need help the most.

From 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Saturday, April 4, 2015, I attended an Alcoholics Anonymous group meeting at St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo, Wisconsin. It was the Area 75 Conference of the “Friends of Bill Group”. It was a truly sobering and enlightening experience and it made me appreciate my own life much more. This is especially true after a talk I had with a member of the group who asked to remain anonymous, suffice it to say that his story was a very tragic one. I would like to report on my general reaction and afterthoughts to the meeting, but I think it would appropriate to recount the member’s story first.

Initially when I had arrived, I was the first person to walk in, so I had some time to talk to the person in charge. At the beginning of the meeting I got a chance to speak with the wife of a guest speaker and she explained to me how the meeting was going to go. They first read two chapters from a book that was used in this program and everyone was required to have. Then, they had their guess speaker talk about their experience and how it was for him to go through the process which kept him sober for 30 years. After he was done talking, for the rest of the hour people were called on to come up and share their story. However they were asked to share a small part of their story so everyone could get a chance to talk a little and have the opportunity to feel heard. It was interesting how every story was the so different yet everyone could connect to one another.

12-Step recovery programs utilize both open and closed meeting formats. Open meeting format is welcomes everyone, including non-addicts who wish to attend in support of a loved one or to gain knowledge and understanding. Closed meetings accept and consist of only recovering addicts. Regardless of the meeting type, these meetings have some general expectations:

Most of these people had families, friends and a very successful career. They had what I eventually would like to have and yet their lives collapsed when they started using alcohol as their escape route for stress. These stresses were due to a loss of a family member, their jobs or just their everyday lives. Some of them were young women, who looked as what I would call normal and this made me think to myself many times during the meeting that I could easily be one of those people. I had felt stress before and know how difficult it can be handle without falling into a bad habit. Even though their addiction had no excuse in my eyes and I believed it was wrong, I now felt sympathetic towards them instead of judgmental. I was able to actually understand what they were going through and admire their strength for asking for

Healing from substance use disorder is found in connecting and sharing empathetically with others who share the problem. For this reason, group therapy (GT) has emerged as a standard method of treatment as those who suffer from this disorder find solace in the company of peers and, under the guidance of a competent facilitator, become inspired to seek a solution in common with them. Substance use counselors can expect to participate in GT as a matter of course, so must understand the nuances involved in facilitating both open and closed groups. This paper will define open and closed therapy groups, explain the major differences between them, and compare their respective advantages and disadvantages in certain treatment environments.

The clarity and effectiveness of purpose and the use of time was very well used in this meeting. The purpose of this meeting was very clear to both this writer and seemed to be to all group members. Group members respected that the purpose was to have meetings that were effective enough to help themselves stay sober. The group leader was very strict on keeping the group on task and did not allow much time for the group members to get off topic. The group discussions truly allowed group members to understand the purpose in being in attendance at each meeting. The time allotted for the meeting was perfect. The hour long session left just enough time for each portion of the meeting to be completed, but did not leave extra time where the group leader struggled to come up with discussion or activities for the group members to participate in. The use of time was very effective and clear to both the group leaders and group members.