Going to your first Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting can be challenging. You likely don’t know what to expect and may have preconceived ideas about AA from the media, pop culture, and other alcoholics. Some people who are court ordered to go to meetings may feel resentful about being forced to attend. Others choose to attend AA due to their personal struggle with addiction. (If you are not sure AA is right for you, you can take a quiz on the Alcoholics Anonymous website – www.aa.org- to determine if you are a candidate for AA.) Remember that everyone in AA had to walk in to their first meeting, so you are not alone in feeling scared or anxious. But once you walk in, you will be among friends, peers, and sources of support.
Full Answer
Is it overwhelming to attend an AA meeting?
It can be overwhelming to attend a meeting, as many participants use phrases, terms and lingo that new members may be unaccustomed to. Here is some useful advice to make the most of your first AA, NA, Al-Anon, or any other support group meeting. Simply looking for similarities, not differences, may help some lessons to become clear.
Are AA 12-step meetings mandatory?
Despite the court rulings, many individuals are still mandated to attend 12-step meetings. According to AA’s 2011 membership survey (the most recent one available at its website), 14 percent of U.S. and Canadian members are “introduced” to them via court order or a correctional facility.
How do I make the most of my first AA meeting?
Here is some useful advice to make the most of your first AA, NA, Al-Anon, or any other support group meeting. Simply looking for similarities, not differences, may help some lessons to become clear. “My meeting was dominated by sharing.
What do mandated clients need in therapy?
Understanding a mandated client’s need for trust as well as acknowledging the power of consistency and ‘showing up’ can all have significant impact on the experience of therapy for a mandated client.
What is the first step in the treatment process for addiction?
Detoxification is normally the first step in treatment. This involves clearing a substance from the body and limiting withdrawal reactions. In 80 percent of cases, a treatment clinic will use medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
What happens in the initial stage of group therapy?
During the beginning phase of group therapy, issues arise around topics such as orientation, beginners' anxiety, and the role of the leader. The purpose of the group is articulated, working conditions of the group are established, members are introduced, a positive tone is set for the group, and group work begins.
What is the first step of the AA program?
Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable. Step 2: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Step 3: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
What are the five stages of treatment?
Motivation for Recovery: Moving Through the 5 Stages of ChangeStage One: Precontemplation.Stage Two: Contemplation.Stage Three: Preparation.Stage Four: Action.Stage Five: Maintenance/Recovery.Addiction recovery that's built to last.
What would you most want to accomplish at the initial stage of a group?
The purpose of the initial stage of a group is to establish expectations of what the group is going to be like. These expectations include trust, roles, and goals. Confidentiality and conflict need to be addressed immediately. Also, any culture concerns must be dealt with.
How do I start a group therapy session?
Begin the counseling group by talking about less personal subjects, then build your way up to the more intense conversations (A. McCauley). A group counseling section should be divided up into three segments: activity, conversation, and conclusion. Each segment has a specific purpose.
What is the first step?
the initial stage in accomplishing something. peace initiative. opening move in negotiating a peace treaty.
What is the first step in recovery?
The First Step Towards Addiction There are stages of addiction. The first step in addiction is denial. You may lie about using substances, how much or how often you use them, or the reasons why you are using them for loved ones. However, denial runs deeper than what you tell others.
What is 1st step?
1st Step Behavioral Health is a Florida drug and alcohol treatment center dedicated to helping people on an individual basis, discover for themselves the steps they will need to take to achieve a lasting change.
What are the four steps of treatment planning?
First, the clinician behaviorally defines the counseling problems to be addressed. Second, achievable goals are selected. Third, the modes of treatment and methods of interven- tion are determined. Fourth, the counselor explains how change will be measured and how outcomes will be demonstrated.
What are the phases of treatment?
Stage-Matched Care. Developed from the Trans-theoretical Model of Change1, the Stage of Change model includes five stages: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance.
What is the treatment model?
The model proposes that the manner in which an individual views, appraises, or perceives events around himself/ herself is what dictates their subsequent emotional responses and behavioral choices.