Twelve-Step Model: An Open Group Analysis
For this assignment, I was prompted to locate a human service organization with Twelve-step model, so I attended an Alcoholic Anonymous “Big Book” open meeting (AA). This meeting was held at New Life Christian Church in Chantilly on Tuesday at noon. I got there fifteen minutes prior to the beginning of the meeting and informed the group facilitators that I was a student Observer, they kindly welcomed me. They were getting ready to arrange tables, so I quickly jumped in to help arrange tables for the people that would arrive shortly. I was nervous as I did not know what to expect from this meeting. Once people began to arrive I observed comradery between some of the group attendants as they laughed and wanted to sit next to each other. This
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was the first time I had ever attended an AA meeting, consequently, I found this experience to be very insightful.
The purpose of the meeting was to speak about past addiction, coping mechanism, and support. The group meeting title is “Chantilly Big Book”, the participants read a book that looks like a bible but the book has inspirational stories of people who were once an alcoholic and sobered up. The purpose of the group is to read different stories from the book and relate those stories to their current personal everyday struggle. As the group facilitator finished reading the first paragraph he stated “Pass” and the other group member pick up the reading, what I found interesting was that each person before they began to read stated “I’m John Doe and I’m an alcoholic” Then the group responded with “welcome John Doe”. As my turn approached I was nervous as I was not sure what I would say, then I stated my name and said: “I’m an Observer” and began to read two paragraphs of the book. After reading the stories people were encouraged to share their experiences. Some stories were extremely sad as one member stated that drinking to get drunk was the only thing he looked forward to every day. Then another member said that he would carry a flask full of Vodka and drink it as if it was water, which caused him to pass out at Movie Theater and was left there overnight. There were many overwhelming stories of what alcohol did to them and their relationships.
The meeting was and Open meeting which means any person can walk in and attend.
Open meetings are for anyone who are interested in joining a support group. The benefit of an Open group is that every person struggling with addiction can join. I noticed that almost every member of this group knew each other well, as they talked amongst each other about what had happened over the weekend. One member was told, “We missed you last week”. The benefit of an open group is that you can share as much as you choose and not return if you dislike the dynamic of the group however this group was cohesive. There were 16 people in attendance mostly older adults in their late fifties. There was an equal amount of male and females, I noticed that there were two younger members possibly in their thirties. They were all Caucasian, the group was not diverse they seemed surprised to see me there as I was the only minority in the group. The group is composed of recovering Alcoholics. There were two facilitators who sat in different tables, as people were sharing stories both facilitators were comfortable with silence in the room as they did not push anyone to participate. Both facilitators shared challenges they had experienced during the previous week. The female facilitator was more open to sharing her life experiences. The process of the group was to talk about day to day struggles in everyday life. Every person stated that it is a struggle to wake up every day and stay away from alcohol. In addition to how life stress causes them to want to resort to alcohol. There was a spirit of friendship and community among certain members of the group. There were two subgroups one composed of 4 females and the other of 6 males. The females talked about what happened with kids, husband, and family whereas males talked about activities and things they had accomplished during the week. The subgroup composed of the females was lively and chatty as they all sat next to each other. Although everyone
seems to know each other not all members participated in sharing during open discussion. At one point there was a basket passed around for donations but it was voluntary. I felt guilty as I had no cash to give. The leader glanced at me and mad the following comment “Yasmin doesn’t have to give anything because she helped set up the room”. I felt a little embarrassed.
I believe that the development stage of the group is in the middle phase as the members seem comfortable to express their experiences to the group. There was a great level of cohesion among this group and both group leaders as they took on a participant role rather than a lead role. There were no conflicts observed during this meeting as every member had a positive attitude. The group culture was relaxed as one member used bad words every time he talked and others laughed each time he did it. Overall this group seemed well organized and the members seem to like and got along well with one another. I was surprised by the group leaders because they shared personal experiences. They self-disclosed a lot which amazed me as the female leader told a story of how her older child who’s graduating from college resents her for having been “a drunk” when he was a child. She stated that many times her son drives her to want to drink again but that she relies on her group members for support. There were frequent moments of silence in the room, once the quietness got awkward people would begin to disclose. This group was cohesive and had a positive dynamic.
This was one of those assignments that I dreaded only because I had to get out of my comfort zone. Having had an alcoholic father and step-father I know the suffering and struggle that alcoholic go through. I also know firsthand the trauma kids are put through while having alcoholic parents. Consequently, I grew up with the idea that if I ever tried alcohol I would automatically like it and become an alcoholic. I did not try alcohol until I was in my thirties Once I tried my first alcoholic drink I realized that it was not true. I don’t drink wine or alcohol regularly but will take one drink on very special occasions/ celebrations. While attending the AA meeting I realized that these people had the everyday struggle to choose sobriety over alcohol and that was an extremely difficult decision. I also realized that most people who are alcoholics use alcohol as a way to cope with difficult emotions. This AA meeting helped me get rid of some personal biases as I expected to enter a room full of depressed hopeless people. However, many of these people looked like none alcoholics. They have careers, husbands, wives, children, and grandchildren. These are all hard-working people looking for a positive change; many of them states that AA leaders and members had helped them find a new life which they all agree has a new purpose. I left with a sense of wanting to do more for these people and wishing them all the best in their road to recovery.
was the first time I had ever attended an AA meeting, consequently, I found this experience to be very insightful.
The purpose of the meeting was to speak about past addiction, coping mechanism, and support. The group meeting title is “Chantilly Big Book”, the participants read a book that looks like a bible but the book has inspirational stories of people who were once an alcoholic and sobered up. The purpose of the group is to read different stories from the book and relate those stories to their current personal everyday struggle. As the group facilitator finished reading the first paragraph he stated “Pass” and the other group member pick up the reading, what I found interesting was that each person before they began to read stated “I’m John Doe and I’m an alcoholic” Then the group responded with “welcome John Doe”. As my turn approached I was nervous as I was not sure what I would say, then I stated my name and said: “I’m an Observer” and began to read two paragraphs of the book. After reading the stories people were encouraged to share their experiences. Some stories were extremely sad as one member stated that drinking to get drunk was the only thing he looked forward to every day. Then another member said that he would carry a flask full of Vodka and drink it as if it was water, which caused him to pass out at Movie Theater and was left there overnight. There were many overwhelming stories of what alcohol did to them and their relationships.
The meeting was and Open meeting which means any person can walk in and attend.
Open meetings are for anyone who are interested in joining a support group. The benefit of an Open group is that every person struggling with addiction can join. I noticed that almost every member of this group knew each other well, as they talked amongst each other about what had happened over the weekend. One member was told, “We missed you last week”. The benefit of an open group is that you can share as much as you choose and not return if you dislike the dynamic of the group however this group was cohesive. There were 16 people in attendance mostly older adults in their late fifties. There was an equal amount of male and females, I noticed that there were two younger members possibly in their thirties. They were all Caucasian, the group was not diverse they seemed surprised to see me there as I was the only minority in the group. The group is composed of recovering Alcoholics. There were two facilitators who sat in different tables, as people were sharing stories both facilitators were comfortable with silence in the room as they did not push anyone to participate. Both facilitators shared challenges they had experienced during the previous week. The female facilitator was more open to sharing her life experiences. The process of the group was to talk about day to day struggles in everyday life. Every person stated that it is a struggle to wake up every day and stay away from alcohol. In addition to how life stress causes them to want to resort to alcohol. There was a spirit of friendship and community among certain members of the group. There were two subgroups one composed of 4 females and the other of 6 males. The females talked about what happened with kids, husband, and family whereas males talked about activities and things they had accomplished during the week. The subgroup composed of the females was lively and chatty as they all sat next to each other. Although everyone
seems to know each other not all members participated in sharing during open discussion. At one point there was a basket passed around for donations but it was voluntary. I felt guilty as I had no cash to give. The leader glanced at me and mad the following comment “Yasmin doesn’t have to give anything because she helped set up the room”. I felt a little embarrassed.
I believe that the development stage of the group is in the middle phase as the members seem comfortable to express their experiences to the group. There was a great level of cohesion among this group and both group leaders as they took on a participant role rather than a lead role. There were no conflicts observed during this meeting as every member had a positive attitude. The group culture was relaxed as one member used bad words every time he talked and others laughed each time he did it. Overall this group seemed well organized and the members seem to like and got along well with one another. I was surprised by the group leaders because they shared personal experiences. They self-disclosed a lot which amazed me as the female leader told a story of how her older child who’s graduating from college resents her for having been “a drunk” when he was a child. She stated that many times her son drives her to want to drink again but that she relies on her group members for support. There were frequent moments of silence in the room, once the quietness got awkward people would begin to disclose. This group was cohesive and had a positive dynamic.
This was one of those assignments that I dreaded only because I had to get out of my comfort zone. Having had an alcoholic father and step-father I know the suffering and struggle that alcoholic go through. I also know firsthand the trauma kids are put through while having alcoholic parents. Consequently, I grew up with the idea that if I ever tried alcohol I would automatically like it and become an alcoholic. I did not try alcohol until I was in my thirties Once I tried my first alcoholic drink I realized that it was not true. I don’t drink wine or alcohol regularly but will take one drink on very special occasions/ celebrations. While attending the AA meeting I realized that these people had the everyday struggle to choose sobriety over alcohol and that was an extremely difficult decision. I also realized that most people who are alcoholics use alcohol as a way to cope with difficult emotions. This AA meeting helped me get rid of some personal biases as I expected to enter a room full of depressed hopeless people. However, many of these people looked like none alcoholics. They have careers, husbands, wives, children, and grandchildren. These are all hard-working people looking for a positive change; many of them states that AA leaders and members had helped them find a new life which they all agree has a new purpose. I left with a sense of wanting to do more for these people and wishing them all the best in their road to recovery.