AA

Limitations

-Rigid interpretations of the steps that demand that the client follow the steps as defined by the group and its members; Ex: a group may interpret Higher Power to mean a Christian God and strongly discourage any other forms -Open membership allows anyone to attend, so a client should approach step meetings with a somewhat protective stance to avoid being taken advantage of. -Previous neg. experiences -limited applicability since the wording of Him as a higher power can be viewed as sexist, and that oppressed groups don't need to learn about powerlessness but how to own their power -basis of AA groups are typically Caucasian, middle-class, heterosexual males that sometimes struggle with the 'isms', (sexism, racism, homophobia, so on) ; bias against members with "other" problems, drug use, non-addictive medication use -Religious and spiritual dimension limits adaptation, attached phrase 'as we understood Him' helps relax clients

use in counseling

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Step 1

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

tradition 9

AA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve

step 5

Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

tradition 10

Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy

tradition 8

Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers

tradition 6

An AA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the AA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose

tradition 12

Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

Step 2

Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

step 10

Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

tradition 5

Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers

tradition 4

Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole

tradition 7

Every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

Tradition 2

For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

step 12

Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

step 7

Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

step 3

Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

step 8

Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

step 4

Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves

step 9

Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Tradition 1

Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon AA unity

tradition 11

Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always to maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films

step 11

Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that on

Tradition 3

The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking

step 6

Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

AA, Co Founders, and Big Book of AA

est. 1935 by Bill Wilson (W.) and Dr. Robert Smith (Dr. Bob)

Types of meetings

open, closed, discussion, speaker, step, and big book

Strengths

the only requirement for membership is the desire to stop drinking; it is widely used for treatment of addiction making it very accessible and offers numerous special interest groups within AA for sexual orientation, professionals, gender, recovering counselors, and spanish-speaking individuals.