Recovery Meetings

Programs: Alcoholics Anonymous and all other Anonymous programs, Celebrate Recovery, Millati Islami, Wellbriety Movement, Recovery 2.0. 

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, often followed 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. Recovery 2.0 meetings include a gratitude or recovery reflection in the beginning of the meeting as well. 

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 has a structured time for sharing, although speaker meetings sometimes don't have time for a sharing period. Members are 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. 

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. In Mindfulness in Recovery meetings the Seven Skills are reviewed at the top of the meeting. Eight Step Recovery meetings will review their Buddhism-inspired eight steps and five training principles.

In Refuge Recovery, Recovery Dharma, and Mindfulness in Recovery meetings the meeting initiation steps are followed by a 10-20 minute guided mindfulness meditation session. In Eight Step Recovery the meditation portion is shorter and comes at the very beginning of the meeting. In all four programs the meditation practice focuses on mindfulness of the breath, compassion, loving-kindness, or other concepts relevant to recovery. This mindfulness practice aims to help members build awareness and calmness, grounding them in the present moment..

After the meeting initiation and 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. Mindfulness in Recovery meetings similarly include a core text reading to define a topic for the meeting, typically on one of MIR’s seven skills or their daily guidance. 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 will 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 the meeting’s topic, personal insights, challenges in sobriety, or how mindfulness practices have supported them in managing cravings and 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: Sober Faction, The Luckiest Club. 

Sober Faction and The Luckiest Club meetings share a lot of similarities. Meetings are informal, welcoming, and usually last 60 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.  

Both organizations offer 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-dependent relationships, people of color, and queer/LGBT sessions. These specialized meetings offer tailored support for the unique needs of these groups. Gender-specific meetings are also available. 

Although it is not a gender-specific program, the large majority of The Luckiest Club meeting attendees are female, making it a good option for women seeking female-centric recovery groups. Sober Faction, on the other hand, tends to attract people who embrace alternative lifestyles, free thinking, and fierce independence. 

Meetings begin with a welcome from the facilitator, who will introduce themselves and then invite everyone to briefly share their first name. In online meetings these introductions are sometimes done in the chat window. The facilitator will then review the meeting guidelines, emphasizing confidentiality, respect, and the group’s secular, inclusive approach. 

In The Luckiest Club meetings they also give the group a reminder that crosstalk during attendee shares is not allowed. Sober Faction meetings allow crosstalk limited to clarifying questions or empathetic comments, but unsolicited commentary or debate is discouraged. 

Some meetings will then have a short guided meditation, breathing exercise, or moment of reflection to help attendees get into a focused and present mindset.

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 or other written program materials. The Luckiest Club’s core text 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.  Alternatively, some meetings replace the reading portion with a guest speaker sharing on their sobriety journey for 15-20 minutes. 

The primary focus in secular support meetings is open sharing from the attendees. The meeting’s facilitator may offer a discussion prompt such as “What helped you stay sober this week?” or “What challenges are you facing right now?” Members might discuss the meeting’s topic, how their week has gone, their struggles, victories, or insights related to sobriety. Attendees can share whatever feels most relevant to them. The emphasis is on sharing experiences, challenges, and coping strategies without judgment. Members are encouraged to reflect on how they strengthened their sobriety over the week. This discussion style is meant to empower individuals to develop and share their strategies for managing sobriety. Attendees discuss personal tools or methods they use for maintaining sobriety, like developing hobbies and structuring their daily routines. The goal is to strengthen individual coping skills.

Meetings close with any relevant program announcements, positive reflections on the progress made, an expression of gratitude for the support shared, and/or a final reading from program materials. 

Programs: LifeRing, SMART Recovery. 

LifeRing and SMART Recovery meetings differ from all other recovery program meetings in one important way: crosstalk is encouraged instead of forbidden. In both programs attendees are invited to engage with one another directly, offering advice and support. However, meetings from these two organizations also differ significantly from one another. LifeRing meetings are typically 60 minutes long whereas 90 minute meetings are normal in SMART Recovery. Additionally, LifeRing meetings tend to be informal, open format sessions while SMART Recovery meetings are highly structured. 

In both organizations meetings start with a check-in where participants summarize how their last week has been. The question often used to initiate this part of the meeting is, “How was your week?” In LifeRing, attendees are encouraged to go into detail during this share, and the balance of the meeting will be dedicated member shares and feedback. This open format allows participants to share on thoughts, feelings, challenges, and successes they’ve had recently.

By contrast, in SMART recovery meetings the initial share is kept fairly short. It is followed by a leader-directed discussion and/or working session focused on one of 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 over addictive substances and behaviors. The SMART meeting facilitator will then address each attendee directly to solicit their participation and feedback, either on the meeting topic or on their own experiences. 

As with other programs, the sharing portion of LifeRing and SMART Recovery meetings is the primary focus. The crosstalk encouraged by these two organizations can foster dynamic, interactive discussions that address the specific challenges and experiences of the meeting’s attendees. By allowing participants to respond to one another in real time, meetings that inspire crosstalk create a richer and more immediate exchange of perspectives, coping strategies, and insights. 

This interactive format can help attendees feel more supported and understood, as they receive direct feedback, validation, and encouragement from peers who have faced similar struggles. Such meetings resemble group therapy sessions more closely than the quiet, reflective model favored by many traditional recovery programs, providing a space where dialogue can spark new awareness and motivate change. 

Importantly, participation in crosstalk is entirely voluntary. Attendees can choose whether or not to speak during the meeting, and they can also indicate whether they wish to receive input or feedback from others, allowing individuals to maintain personal boundaries and engage at a level that feels safe and constructive. In this way, crosstalk balances openness and peer support with respect for personal autonomy, making it a powerful tool for community-based recovery. 

LifeRing meetings conclude when times run out, with the leader ending the session with a simple thank you for attending. SMART Recovery meetings conclude 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.