Having a sponsor helps a person in recovery build trust and practice healthy relationships. Participating in a 12-Step recovery program requires more than just going to meetings and reading the literature. For a successful recovery program, it is recommended (more than once) to find someone willing to serve as your sponsor.
Full Answer
How can a sponsor help me?
A sponsor can be a friend, teacher, and role model. A sponsor can be a great source of addiction recovery information, including their own experiences, successes, and failures in recovery. A sponsor can show the newly recovering valuable insights about living a life free from drugs or alcohol.
What is the role of a sponsor in recovery?
– A sponsor is a living example of how to function and achieve recovery from addiction. – A sponsor can help to explain basic concepts, terminology and introduce that individual to other members. – A sponsor can help a sponsee to understand the program more quickly. – A sponsor is a safe person whom a sponsee can trust.
Can a sponsor stop a sponsee from drinking?
Although a sponsor cannot physically stop a sponsee from drinking or using, based on experience, a sponsor has the unique ability to provide the best chance at dissuading the decision to relapse. Often times, being heard and understood can discourage an addict from making the decision to relapse.
What does an AA sponsor do for You?
An AA sponsor is your role model for the entire phase of recovery. He or she can help you live a sober a life through his or her guidance, as well as keep you from a relapse. An AA sponsor is your direct source of information and guidance as you work through The Rooms in the 12 Steps program.
Why are sponsors important in recovery?
People in early sobriety feel fragile, and they may have never experienced the true joy of having a healthy relationship. A good sponsor will be patient, compassionate, and positive as they lead by example and share their own experience, strength, and hope. This helps ease anxieties that come with early recovery.
What's the purpose of a sponsor?
Sponsors help you navigate membership, answer questions, work on the 12-steps, and offer accountability. A sponsor is also a confidant who understand where you have been. You can confide in your sponsor what you may not be comfortable sharing at meetings.
Why is it important to have a sponsor in NA?
Sponsorship, as recommended in AA and NA, is a vital component of a 12-step program. The benefits of a good sponsor are crucial to someone new in recovery. While a sponsor is not required for sobriety, experience has proven that people who find a sponsor and follow suggestions have a greater chance of staying sober.
What makes a good sponsor?
Competence: the sponsor must have the knowledge, and skills to fulfil the role. For example, suitable characteristics include strategic view, leadership, collaborative champion, and an understanding of the business case and the needs of the project's client(s).
What does a sponsor do for an event?
An event sponsor is a company that supports an event, usually by providing funds, in exchange for something valuable. Oftentimes this “something valuable” comes in the form of increased brand exposure, access to attendee data, speaking opportunities at the event, or discounted event tickets.
What is the difference between a sponsor and a counselor?
A therapist helps navigate the road of recovery by providing individualized help. Addressing childhood issues and past traumas is not the sponsor's role. They can share what's worked for them but they are not trained in these issues. A sponsor is a mentor that guides you through the steps and walks their talk.
What does it mean to be a sponsor in recovery?
A sponsor is someone that helps a person who is newly sober from drugs or alcohol. The sponsor helps the newly recovered addict through mentoring and supporting them, as well as by offering friendship.
What is a sponsor vs mentor?
For one, mentors don't necessarily work in the same organization as you. But sponsors usually do. Both will provide guidance and advice. But only a sponsor will actively advocate for your career success within your current organization.
What does a sponsor do for an athlete?
Financial: A sponsor provides a financial contribution to support your participation in events. Product: Brand products are provided from gear to training equipment and sports drinks to phones or sunglasses.
Why is it important to have sponsorship?
Sponsorships help your business increase its credibility, improve its public image, and build prestige. Like any form of marketing, it should be used strategically as a way to reach your target customers.
What you should look for in a sponsor?
7 Things to Look for when Choosing a SponsorThey have more time than you… a lot more time. ... They have completed the 12 steps… a few times. ... They have what you want… and you're willing to work to get it. ... They have a sponsor… and they still talk to them. ... They attend meetings… and encourage you to go.More items...•
What does a good sponsor look like?
Ideally a sponsor is someone that has been sober for at least one year, and has completed all twelve steps. Some experts recommend choosing a sponsor that has successfully completed five years of sobriety. They Are Not Sexually Attractive: A sponsor is there as an impartial party that you can trust.
What is the purpose of a sponsor?
The primary purpose and responsibility of a sponsor is to help another individual work the Twelve Steps associated with a twelve-step program. Sponsorship is often considered one of the most rewarding relationships developed in addiction recovery.
What is the role of sponsorship in recovery?
In early recovery this can be a daunting task, especially if there is little understanding about what a sponsor is and should be. This brings up a commonly asked question, what is the role of sponsorship in addiction recovery and do I even need one? The primary purpose and responsibility of a sponsor is to help another individual work the Twelve Steps associated with a twelve-step program. Sponsorship is often considered one of the most rewarding relationships developed in addiction recovery.
What is a 12 step sponsor?
A Twelve Step sponsor can provide various other vital functions throughout the recovery process. Here are some of the important functions a sponsor provides: – A sponsor is a good source of information about recovery. – A sponsor can provide valuable insight about their experiences in life without drugs or alcohol.
What is a sponsor for relapse prevention?
Sponsorship and Relapse Prevention. A sponsor can be an invaluable resource when an individual feels the urge to drink or use. If an individual feels at risk of relapse, it is recommended that before they make this devastating decision they reach out to their sponsor immediately.
Can a sponsor keep a therapist?
– A sponsor cannot keep a sponsee in recovery from addiction.
Is sponsorship a good thing?
While sponsorship can be an extremely rewarding experience, it can also be a scary experience during the early stages of addiction recovery. This relationship requires the addict to be honest, vulnerable and divulge truths about their drinking or using experiences to their chosen sponsor.
Can a sponsor stop a sponsee from drinking?
Although a sponsor cannot physically stop a sponsee from drinking or using, based on experience, a sponsor has the unique ability to provide the best chance at dissuading the decision to relapse. Often times, being heard and understood can discourage an addict from making the decision to relapse.
What is an addiction sponsor?
A sponsor, when it comes to drug or alcohol addiction, is someone who was an addict in a long period of recovery and is willing to help a newly recovering addict during the recovery-from-addiction stage.
What are the primary roles of an AA sponsor?
To help you work the 12 Steps and understand its purpose in your path to recovery is the primary role of a sponsor. He or she can also become your good listener whenever you feel down and frustrated, or your direct conscience when you feel like going into a relapse.
Why is sponsorship important in recovery?
Sponsorship isn’t only beneficial for newly recovering addicts, as how most people perceive it. Becoming an AA sponsor is beneficial as well. Helping someone who is recovering from drug and alcohol addiction can help a sponsor stay more focused, grounded, and motivated in his or her own recovery.
Why is it important to have a sponsor?
Why It’s Important to Have a Sponsor During Recovery from Addiction. When a person seeks help for an addictive disorder, they admit that their illness is beyond their own resources. In other words, if they are to get better, they need other people.
What is a sponsor in therapy?
In simplest terms, a sponsor is a mentor who understands what their sponsee is going through, and they use that experience to help them move forward in recovery. While they are not professionals and do not take the place of trained therapists, they can provide a level of insight and accountability not found elsewhere.
What is the role of a sponsor?
The Role of a Sponsor. The top responsibility of a sponsor is to guide their sponsee as they worked through the 12 Steps of Recovery. Typically, sponsors are in recovery themselves, with a significant length of sobriety. They will have already completed the Steps at least once and are living their lives in accordance with the Principles of Recovery.
What Is a Sponsor and Why Do I Need One?
Participating in a 12-Step recovery program for addiction involves more than just attending meetings. A successful program recommends that every person has a sponsor who will serve as an essential part of their recovery journey. It may be difficult to share experiences or tell your story in a group setting.
What Is a Sponsor?
A sponsor is an individual who has already been in recovery, typically for at least a year. This person serves as a reliable mentor to you during your recovery. A sponsor has personal experience with the 12-Step approach and can offer advice and guidance to those who are new to recovery or looking for extra support.
What Is a Sponsor Not?
A sponsor is not a therapist. Although sponsors offer insight and make recommendations for your recovery, you will not receive professional help from a sponsor like you would from a therapist. A sponsor should not push their personal views or opinions on you, as your recovery journey is unique to you.
Why Do I Need a Sponsor?
Typically, a sponsor is recommended for individuals who are either just beginning their recovery journey or may need some extra support. No matter how long you have been clean, sober, or abstinent in your recovery, you will always be practicing the principles of the Twelve Steps.
How Can I Find a Sponsor?
If this is your first time looking for a sponsor, there are a few things to consider. Every potential sponsor has different strengths and weaknesses. Some sponsors have excellent communication skills and encourage open conversation, while others are a bit more distant and wait for you to approach them with concerns.
What is the responsibility of a sponsor?
The main responsibility of a sponsor is to help another person in recovery work through the 12 steps of the program. It’s often one of the closest and most rewarding relationships that is developed in recovery.
What does a sponsor do for sobriety?
Some of those are: A sponsor can be a friend, teacher, and role model. A sponsor can be a great source of addiction recovery information , including their own experiences, successes, and failures in recovery.
What does sponsorship mean in addiction recovery?
What Does Sponsorship in Addiction Recovery Mean? Addiction recovery sponsorship requires a sponsor who has a history of sobriety, knows the 12 steps, and is able to be responsible to a person without becoming responsible for a person.
What is a sponsor in AA?
A sponsor is like a close friend who mentors and guides someone with less sobriety through the process of recovery. Typically, a sponsor is another person in recovery who has already worked the 12 steps that are outlined in 12-step programs like AA. They usually have a significant amount of time sober and continually work to live the principles ...
What is sponsorship in 12-step?
Sponsorship during addiction recovery is one of the tenets of 12-step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Many who have gotten, and remained, clean and sober have done so with the help of a sponsor guiding them through the process of recovery. While it has proven to be an effective tool in 12-step circles, some wonder whether sponsorship in addiction recovery is really an important element.
Can a sponsor be a therapist?
A sponsor should not act as a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist, as they are not any of those things. A sponsor cannot take on the responsibility (or perceived responsibility) of keeping another person from using or drinking. A sponsor should not take advantage of a sponsee.
Do you need a sponsor for AA?
In a word, no. Sponsorship during addiction recovery is not necessary for all recovering addicts. There are people in recovery, in 12-step groups and not, who have maintained sobriety without the help of a sponsor ( Recovery Outside of AA: Incorporating the 12 Steps in My Own Way ). However, part of learning to live a life that is free ...
A Rewarding Relationship
What Is A Sponsor?
- In many ways, a sponsor is like a good friend, a mentor and an experienced guide on the path to recovery. A sponsor is someone who has suffered from addiction and has experienced recovery by working the Twelve Steps as outlined in the Twelve Step Program. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotic Anonymous (NA) are both 12-step recovery programs for people suffering from alc…
What Is The Role of A Sponsor?
- The primary role of a sponsor is to help their sponsee work the Twelve Steps by providing explanation, guidance, understanding and encouragement. A Twelve Step sponsor can provide various other vital functions throughout the recovery process. Here are some of the important functions a sponsor provides: – A sponsor is a good source of information ab...
What Is Not The Role of A Sponsor
- While a sponsor serves many purposes, it can also be easy to get them confused for something that they are not. Knowing the difference between a sponsor and a professional worker is key to building a successful relationship. If you are interested in learning more about this distinction, check out our blog post on the subject. What a sponsor does not do is as important as what a s…
Sponsorship and Relapse Prevention
- A sponsor can be an invaluable resource when an individual feels the urge to drink or use. If an individual feels at risk of relapse, it is recommended that before they make this devastating decision they reach out to their sponsor immediately. Although a sponsor cannot physically stop a sponsee from drinking or using, based on experience, a sponsor has the unique ability to provid…
Is It Necessary?
- Ultimately, in recovery there are very few things that are black and white – there are some tried and true suggestions however, that prove successful time and time again. One of these is having an active, working relationship with a sponsor. Addicts are by nature defiant, and have a tendency towards making rash decisions that are usually motivated by self. This is a quality that follows i…