Recovery Meetings

Programs: Alcoholics Anonymous and all other Anonymous programs, Celebrate Recovery, Millati Islami, Wellbriety Movement. 

Twelve-step meetings are intended to be welcoming and inclusive. The atmosphere can vary greatly by meeting. Some meetings are quieter and reflective, others are more energetic, and some can even feel aggressive. Regardless, all meetings emphasize acceptance, confidentiality, and mutual respect. Anonymity is strongly valued, giving members a safe space to speak openly without fear of stigma or judgment. 

Each meeting begins with a welcome by the group leader or chairperson. A moment of silence or a short prayer follows to focus the group on the purpose of the gathering. The twelve steps are read, followed commonly by the twelve traditions of the organization.  Excerpts from program literature may be included to set the tone and reinforce the goals of the fellowship. 

If newcomers are present, the chairperson will invite them to introduce themselves by their first name. There’s no pressure for newcomers to share details if they’re uncomfortable; they’re encouraged simply to listen and observe. The group offers a warm welcome, acknowledging the courage it takes to attend for the first time.

There are several different variations for the core content of a twelve-step meeting, which can include:

• Speaker Meetings: An experienced member shares their personal story, discussing their addiction, recovery, and insights gained. These meetings are often inspirational and highlight the possibilities of recovery.
• Open Discussion Meetings: Members take turns sharing their experiences, challenges, and successes in recovery. Members may respond or offer support, but the emphasis is on listening rather than advising.
• Topic Meetings: The group focuses on a specific theme, such as a step from the twelve Steps, relapse prevention, gratitude, or acceptance. The chairperson typically introduces the topic, and members are invited to share their thoughts and experiences related to it.
• Step or Tradition Study Meetings: The group studies one of the twelve steps or twelve traditions in-depth, discussing its application to recovery and personal life.

Additionally, twelve-step meetings are sometimes restricted to or focused on a particular audience:

• Open Meetings: Open to anyone interested in learning about the program, including friends and family.
• Closed Meetings: Restricted to members only, providing a more confidential setting where people may feel more comfortable discussing personal issues.
• Newcomer Meetings: Meetings emphasizing an introduction to the twelve steps and twelve traditions of the program.
• Women Only Meetings: A safe space specifically for women to discuss their experiences and challenges with others who may better understand their perspective.

Each meeting typically has a structured time for sharing, with members encouraged to be respectful of time so everyone has a chance to participate. During sharing, members speak openly about their personal experiences with addiction and recovery. There is no cross-talk or interruption, which allows members to speak without fear of judgment or unsolicited advice. Others listen, offering silent support and solidarity. Attendees might share about recent successes or challenges in managing their addiction, feelings of guilt or shame, progress toward healing, specific steps they’re working on, or plans to avoid triggers and temptations.

A handful of meeting practices are unique to specific twelve-step programs. Celebrate Recovery, being a program that addresses a variety of addictions, follows the main group meeting with smaller breakout sessions for gender-specific and issue-specific groups, such as alcohol addiction, anger management, and codependency. Meetings in the two dual-recovery programs may include specific topics or themes related to dual diagnosis recovery, such as coping strategies, medication management, and the impact of mental health stigma. The Debtor’s Anonymous program includes a unique Pressure Relief Group meeting, a session where a junior member meets with two more senior DA members to create a realistic financial plan. 

As the meeting winds down, members are typically encouraged to seek a sponsor if they haven’t already. A sponsor is an experienced member who can provide one-on-one guidance, support, and accountability as a member works through the twelve steps. 

There’s usually a reading from program literature or passages from the core text that emphasize daily commitment to recovery. These reflections serve as reminders of the program’s principles and provide encouragement to face challenges with resilience and purpose. Meetings close with a group affirmation or prayer, such as the Serenity Prayer or a simple group statement like “Keep coming back; it works if you work it.” 

Programs: Refuge Recovery, Recovery Dharma, Eight Step Recovery, Mindfulness in Recovery, Recovery 2.0. 

All mindful spirituality meetings are informal and non-hierarchical, focused on mindfulness and shared understanding. The blend of meditation, readings, reflections, and open sharing creates a peaceful, empowering space where individuals can explore their recovery with compassion and self-awareness 

Meetings typically begin with a welcome greeting from the facilitator and group introductions, followed by an overview of meeting rules and principles. In Refuge Recovery and Recovery Dharma this is followed by a reading of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Eight Step Recovery meetings will review their Buddhism-inspired eight steps, while Mindfulness in Recovery meetings often include an intention-setting exercise at this point. Recovery 2.0 meetings include a gratitude or recovery reflection in the beginning of the meeting instead.

In all five programs, the meeting initiation steps are followed by a guided mindfulness meditation session. The practice might focus on mindfulness of the breath, compassion, loving-kindness, or other meditations relevant to recovery. This mindfulness practice aims to help members build awareness and calmness, grounding them in the present moment.

After the meditation, a reading from each program’s unique core text is shared. In Refuge Recovery, Recovery Dharma, and Eight Step Recovery the core text centers around Buddhist philosophy, so this reading often explores themes of suffering, attachment, compassion, or healing. Recovery 2.0 and Mindfulness in Recovery meetings similarly include a core text reading to define a theme or topic for the meeting. The facilitator will typically then lead a brief discussion or offer insights related to the reading. 

Following the reading, participants are invited to share their thoughts, experiences, and reflections on how the reading or the meditation applies to their own recovery journey. The facilitator might set guidelines to create a safe space, such as speaking from one’s own experience rather than making generalizations or suggestions. There is no cross-talk allowed, meaning members listen without interrupting, questioning, or giving advice. This practice helps maintain a space of acceptance and non-judgment. 

Shares are usually centered on personal insights, challenges in sobriety, and how mindfulness practices have supported them in managing cravings or building resilience. The sharing portion of the meeting often uses a tag-pass format, meaning when one person’s share is complete they pick the next person to share. However, sharing is voluntary — each attendee has an opportunity to speak but is not obligated to do so. 

Meetings end with a moment of silent reflection, a dedication of the session to recovery goals, an expression of gratitude, or another short meditation. The meeting also often includes a group affirmation, such as setting intentions for the week ahead or committing to practicing self-compassion and mindfulness. The closing serves as a reminder of each participant’s individual journey and the supportive community around them. 

Programs: LifeRing, Sober Faction, The Luckiest Club. 

LifeRing, Sober Faction, and The Luckiest Club meetings share a lot of similarities, with the primary difference coming down to the foundational text that they use for discussion topics. All three organization’s meetings are informal and welcoming, lasting 60 to 90 minutes. They focus on accountability, mutual support, and practical steps toward sobriety, emphasizing individual choice and secular recovery. This flexible, person-centered approach aims to make members feel empowered and capable of directing their path to recovery. 

Support organizations usually offer both general meetings as well as focused meetings intended to unite specific communities of individuals who share common experiences or identities that may not be fully addressed in standard meetings. Some examples include meetings for those with co-occurring mental or emotional health disorders, friends and family, and LGBTQIA+. These specialized sessions offer tailored support to meet the unique needs of these groups. 

Meetings begin with a welcome from the facilitator, who will introduce themselves and then invite everyone to briefly share their first name. The facilitator will then review the meeting guidelines, emphasizing confidentiality, respect, and the group’s secular, inclusive approach. They also give the group a reminder that cross-talk during attendee shares is not allowed. Some meetings will then have an attendee check-in where each participant is invited (but not required) to share how they’re doing, recent challenges, or significant successes in their recovery. 

From there the facilitator will share a brief reading or lesson for the meeting to provide a theme, typically pulled from the organization’s core text. LifeRing’s core text is Empowering Your Sober Self by Martin Nicolaus, while The Luckiest Club’s is We Are The Luckiest by Laura McKowen. Sober Faction doesn’t have a core text per se, but they do have recovery program materials that may be referenced. If not, the meeting’s topic will usually come from an outside text. 

The primary focus in secular support meetings is open sharing from the attendees. Members might discuss their week, focusing on their struggles, victories, and insights related to sobriety. The question often used to initiate this part of the meeting is, “How was your week?” This lets members choose to share whatever feels most relevant to them. The emphasis is on sharing experiences, challenges, and coping strategies without judgment or giving unsolicited advice. Members are encouraged to reflect on how they strengthened their sobriety over the week. 

While unsolicited cross-talk is forbidden, members may offer constructive feedback if someone requests it. This discussion style is meant to empower individuals to develop and share their strategies for managing sobriety. Members discuss and share personal tools or methods they use for maintaining sobriety, like developing hobbies, structuring their daily routines, or practicing mindfulness techniques. The goal is to strengthen individual coping skills.

Meetings close with positive reflections on the progress made or an expression of gratitude for the support shared. 

Meetings in the SMART Recovery program are peer-support groups where participants help themselves and each other. They differ from most other recovery meetings in several significant ways. Meetings last 90 minutes instead of the more common 60, and they’re led by trained personnel instead of untrained volunteers. However, what truly sets them apart from all other organizations is that cross-talk is encouraged — members are invited to engage with one another directly. Meeting attendance is encouraged as needed over months and years, but not necessarily for a lifetime. 

A typical meeting starts with a check-in where participants summarize how their last week has been. This is followed by a leader-directed discussion and/or working session focused on one the SMART tools. SMART Recovery tools are discussed and applied during the meeting. Participants are encouraged to empower themselves through various tools and techniques, rather than feeling powerless. 

The meeting facilitator will usually address each attendee directly to solicit their participation and feedback. Meetings are more akin to group therapy sessions than the quiet reflection model favored by twelve-step and Buddhist philosophy programs. This can lead to lively, focused discussions on the specific challenges faced by the meeting’s attendees. However, speaking during the meeting and participating in discussions is voluntary, and attendees can specify whether or not they wish to receive input or feedback from others. 

The meeting concludes with a check-out where participants plan for the week ahead. This usually includes setting an easy but specific goal to achieve. Progress toward this goal will be shared as part of the check-in portion of the next meeting. 

The WFS program is centered on the unique emotional and psychological needs of women. Meetings emphasize positivity, self-empowerment, and forward-thinking. They foster a compassionate, non-competitive environment that allows each woman to develop her sense of self-worth as she works toward maintaining sobriety and personal growth.  

Meetings typically start with a welcoming statement that emphasizes respect, confidentiality, and non-judgment, helping participants feel comfortable. The meeting structure is based on the New Life Program, which includes 13 affirmations designed to promote self-worth, positive thinking, and emotional growth. Each meeting typically centers around one or more affirmations, such as “I am in charge of my mind, my thoughts, and my life” or “I am a competent woman, and I have much to give life.” 

Each woman is invited to share her experiences, challenges, and successes, focusing on the week’s affirmation and how it relates to her personal journey. Shares often center on ways participants are working to build self-esteem, foster self-empowerment, and maintain sobriety. WFS places less emphasis on the past and the sharing of “war stories” — instead it encourages members to focus on the present, on personal growth, and on building a positive future.

WFS meetings focus on emotional support, but practical advice on managing sobriety is also welcomed. Members share coping techniques, self-care practices, and strategies for dealing with triggers and stressors. Each woman’s experience is validated, and advice is given respectfully and in line with WFS philosophy of self-empowerment.

Meetings generally end with a group reflection or a reaffirmation of the week’s main principles.