Is AA a type of therapy?
Alcoholics Anonymous, a completely anonymous program, does not offer professional counseling or inpatient rehab. Rather, it provides peer-based support to people who are experiencing an alcohol addiction. Participants in the program work through 12 steps using the 12 traditions of the program.
What is the main purpose of an AA meeting?
The primary purpose of any A.A. group is to carry the A.A. message to alcoholics. Experience with alcohol is one thing all A.A. members have in common. It is misleading to hint or give the impression that A.A. solves other problems or knows what to do about drug addiction.
What does AA therapy mean?
AA is an acronym for Alcoholics Anonymous. It's a 12 Step support group that was started back in 1935 by two men who sobered up and wanted to help other struggling alcoholics do the same.
What are the benefits of AA?
The benefits of AAMeetings are free.There is no obligation to join.You can go as often as you wish to any meeting, in any location.There are no intrusive questions or obligations.You can retain anonymity.Open to everyone regardless of race, religion or beliefs.It creates a network of support.
What are the principles of AA?
The 12 Steps of AAStep 1: Honesty. “We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.” ... Step 2: Hope. ... Step 3: Surrender. ... Step 4: Courage. ... Step 5: Integrity. ... Step 6: Willingness. ... Step 7: Humility. ... Step 8: Love.More items...•
What AA does and does not do?
A.A. does not offer any social services, does not provide housing, food, clothing, jobs, or money. It helps alcoholics stay sober, so they can earn these things for themselves.
Can I just turn up to an AA meeting?
If you prefer, you can simply turn up at one of our meetings - click on this link to find one near you. We strongly suggest that when you arrive you let someone know that this is your first meeting, that way they will be able to provide you with information that most people new to AA find useful.
What is the success rate of AA?
Alcoholics Anonymous' Big Book touts about a 50% success rate, stating that another 25% remain sober after some relapses. A study conducted by AA in 2014 showed that 27% of the more than 6,000 members who participated in the study were sober for less than a year.
How do I fix my spiritual malady?
The only solution to a spiritual malady is a spiritual awakening. Only once we open the spiritual channels and begin to accept a Higher Power into our lives can we hope to find a solution to our alcoholic condition.
What are the downsides of AA?
What are the Cons of AA?Members are encouraged, although not required to rely on a “higher power” as the most effective means of recovery.Lack of concrete evidence associated with outcomes.Emphasis on complete abstinence.Reliance on a higher power presents religious undertones, a problem sometimes for atheists.More items...
What are the limitations of AA?
Among the issues identified as limiting AA's effectiveness are the movement's preoccupation with drinking and sobriety and lack of concern for other problems. Also, the possibility is raised that AA's insistence that its members are but "one drink away from a drunk" can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Is abstinence the only solution for alcoholism?
Conclusions: Available evidence does not support abstinence as the only approach in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. Controlled drinking, particularly if supported by specific psychotherapy, appears to be a viable option where an abstinence-oriented approach is not applicable.
What do they talk about at AA meetings?
Members just tell their stories of what they were like, what happened and what life is like for them now. There are also Steps meetings where AA's 12-Step program of recovery is discussed in detail.
What is a primary purpose group?
The Primary Purpose Group was founded on January 26, 1988 with one specific purpose in mind: to bring the focus of our meetings back to the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous. That is, to learn what is in the Big Book. Some of our members had been around for a number of years and had witnessed a very stark reality.
What does singleness of purpose mean in AA?
Our first duty, as a society, is to insure our own survival. Therefore, we have to avoid distractions and multipurpose activity. An AA group, as such, cannot take on all the personal problems of its members, let alone the problems of the whole world.
Can you just turn up to an AA meeting?
If you prefer, you can simply turn up at one of our meetings - click on this link to find one near you. We strongly suggest that when you arrive you let someone know that this is your first meeting, that way they will be able to provide you with information that most people new to AA find useful.