Gherarlda Pierrot
I chose to visit an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group for this assignment. I first visited the group’s website to learn more about the group. Through the website, I was able to learn that the goal of the group is to help Alcoholics who join the group attain and maintain their sobriety goals. The group does not have an age limit and does not have any minimal requirements that an individual needs to attain in order to join. During my visit, I attended one of the sessions, a meeting that was held on a Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. The session was an open discussion forum where the members of the group discussed the various challenges they were experiencing in their sobriety journey. I chose to attend this particular group’s session because I wanted to understand how the organisation helps the members of the group to attain their sobriety goals. The group was established in 1994 and has been in operation since then. The group consists of people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, age groups and genders. The main goal of the group is to help Alcoholics achieve their sobriety goals.
I aimed at learning how the group works and how the healthcare providers help the members of the group attain their goals. One of the therapeutic factors I observed is hope instillation. Most people seek psychotherapeutic help because they have lost hope of being able to deal with the various challenges they come across. Instilling hope is one of the best ways to help people struggling with addiction overcome the addiction and maintain sobriety (Wnuk, 2022). One of the ways used to instil hope was through fulfilling the patients’ spiritual needs. Research has shown that most patients derive hope from having a relationship with God. This is one of the ways through which patients are able to overcome the various challenges they face in their sobriety journey. Members of the group were also encouraged to engage in self-reflection. Self-reflection allows the patient to determine what is working and what they need to improve (Marcovitz et al., 2020). I also observed other therapeutic factors such as altruism and imparting information.
In my opinion, the group process was effective. The group members worked together with the healthcare provider effectively. The healthcare provider in the group exercised great leadership skills the way she led the group activities and ensured that every member of the group was able to express themselves as they wished and they felt heard (Kelly & Abry, 2021). The group members were also attentive to each other’s thoughts and feelings and they encouraged each other to share. It seemed like a group that had been working together for some time and had learnt to support each other in the various stages of their journeys and through various challenges.
This group allowed me to observe the normal happenings of an Alcoholics Anonymous group and learn more about what happens in such sessions as well as how the group members attain their individual goals. I would refer future clients to this group.
References
Kelly, J. F., & Abry, A. W. (2021). Leave the past behind by recognizing the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of 12-Step facilitation and Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 56(4), 380-382. https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agab010Links to an external site.
Marcovitz, D. E., McHugh, K. R., Roos, C., West, J. J., & Kelly, J. (2020). Overlapping mechanisms of recovery between professional psychotherapies and alcoholics anonymous. Journal of addiction medicine, 14(5), 367-375. https://doi.org/10.1097/adm.0000000000000601Links to an external site.
Wnuk, M. (2022). The beneficial role of involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous for existential and subjective well-being of alcohol-dependent individuals? The model verification. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(9), 5173. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095173Links to an external site.
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Reply from Alisha Anderson
Support Group #1
I work at Broward Health Hospital, where they offer inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services. Broward health offers a variety of services including acute mental illness, behavioral disorders, depression, dual disorders, emotional disorders, mood disorders, psychosis, schizophrenia, and substance abuse disorders (Broward Health, 2024). On Fridays and Sundays, the hospital offers Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings for patients and the public. I chose this meeting because it is one of the most widely recognized and accessible support groups for individuals dealing with alcohol addiction.
Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio. It emerged from the Oxford Group, a Christian fellowship that emphasized personal change through spiritual practices. The AA model has since spread worldwide, offering support to millions of people struggling with alcoholism (Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, 2020). Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are open to anyone who wants to stop drinking alcohol at no charge. The AA meeting allows any amount of people to participate. I have personally seen some meetings with just one person or a full class of around 15 people. The ages ranged from 18-year-old and up. The majority are usually men, with a small number of women. The meetings are diverse, including individuals of various racial and ethnic backgrounds. The primary goal of AA is to help its members achieve and maintain sobriety. This is accomplished through mutual support, sharing experiences, and following the AA 12-step program, which emphasizes personal recovery and spiritual growth (Alcoholics Anonymous, 2022).
My impression of the AA meetings is that it effectively meets the needs of its members. The open and supportive environment allows individuals to share their struggles and successes without fear of judgment. This mutual support is crucial for maintaining long-term sobriety.
Two key therapeutic factors that I often observe are group togetherness and the instillation of hope. Group cohesion was apparent as members supported each other, creating a sense of belonging and acceptance. The instillation of hope was apparent through the sharing of personal success stories, which provided encouragement and inspiration. At the end of each meeting, they close with hugs and a prayer which is very special.
The leadership style was informal, with members taking turns to share and support each other. This approach allows people to feel a sense of equality and mutual respect. Everyone adheres to confidentiality and non-judgmental tone of the meeting allowing everyone to feel comfortable and allowing them to express their feelings and experiences which all contributes to the group’s effectiveness.
When it comes to patient management issues, if a patient goes into the meeting and becomes disruptive, that patient would be excused from the meeting. They are always welcome to come back if they agree to be respectful during the meetings.
The experience of going to the AA meeting was incredibly enlightening. It emphasized the value of a strong support system and community in overcoming addiction. My comprehension of the difficulties faced by those undergoing recovery has been enhanced by the members’ openness and courage.
Based on my observations, I would definitely refer future clients to this group. The supportive environment, effective leadership, and strong therapeutic factors make it a valuable resource for anyone seeking help with alcohol addiction.
References
Alcoholics Anonymous. (2022). What is A.A.? Www.aa.org. https://www.aa.org/what-is-aa
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. (2020). Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism (4th ed.). Alcoholics Anonymous World Services.
Broward Health. (2024). Broward Health Medical Center: Outpatient Addiction Treatment iMATR. Broward Health. https://www.browardhealth.org/pages/addiction-treatment
