Support group report
- Summary of the products
- Introduction
- Summary of all the findings
Support group report
Liberty University sent a representative from the university’s counseling department and program to attend four open meetings of Alcoholic Anonymous. .as the representative sent I was to attend those four open meetings which I attended. The purpose of the support group is to help the member cope with their addiction in the present and in future. The meetings took place at the mental healthcare centre at Phenix City Alabama- Address, 3170 Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy S, Phenix City, AL 3686(334) 298-2405.
Introduction
The meetings of Alcoholic Anonymous were very effective. I was able to learn more things which I didn’t previously know. This report contains the findings of a four day meeting, the challenges encountered and the measures the group has put in place in order to attract more members. The idea for the study originated from the counseling department at the liberty university where I was sent as a representative in order to attend the meetings.
Summary of all findings
To begin with on my first meeting, the new comers were given time to introduce themselves. There were around ten newcomers including me. I took that good chance explaining to the members to the members that I was a student in the liberty university counseling program and that I was a representative of Liberty University, of counselors and of the Christian faith. The newcomers and I were given a warm welcome. The chairperson introduced to the group a certain explained how the alcoholic anonymous group has helped him until he is n longer an alcoholic. He urged many people to search and invite more members’ in order to solve the challenges that are faced by alcohol addicts. We were then recruited as members and the recruitment was free of charge. Members were then asked for any suggestion and after various remarks the meeting was closed with a prayer and members were asked to keep time during the next meeting. I observed that the group kept time and the leader had good leadership qualities on emphasizing team work and team building. We were taught on the history of alcoholic anonymous group and what it has done in the past years as the most influential group in the United States.
The next meeting was still at the same venue. The chairperson welcomed all the members and also the new members. The new members were given a chance to introduce themselves. The chair person outlined the importance of the group. The new members were taken by various group leaders and taught on various aspects. This becomes the first therapy. The new members were given time to interact with the old members and given time to express their feeling on addiction both negative and positive. The new members felt a sense of belonging and become so close to the group. They were taught on how to gain trust from members and how to gain confidence. The new members still had to undergo therapy, guidance and counseling as they continue being members. Members were then asked to meet on the next day and with a prayer the meeting was closed.
At the same venue and time members gathered for the next meeting. In this meeting the guidance, counseling and therapy for the new members continued. Members were guided on their various responsibilities for their actions as well as accepting life and its challenges. New members are taught and able to realize that they share similar attributes characteristics, experiences and feelings with the other members of the group. The new members are made to realize that the other members in the group have overcome the problem of addiction and that they have the power to overcome the same problem (Woodside, & McClam, 2009). The members get to learn different experiences which may be they never experienced and by doing this members are motivated to stick more to the group. This was the last lesion learnt on that particular meeting and members were invited for the next meeting.
On my forth and last meeting, members were urged to remain supportive to the new members. The new members were urged to see the group as a family whereby they can rely on it for various supports they require. They were taught on various strategies of solving different problems they face from the group. They were taught on ways of modeling the behavior and attitudes of the other group members. The members were taught on various skills of avoiding alcohol and even medication in cases where it was necessary. Parents were urged to be good examples of their children and act as role models for children to follow. This was my last meeting and from my meetings I observed quite a number of things. The group is so positive and is gaining more members each day with no charges on membership.
The group uses some of the theories used by Dr Corey in his DVD as he provides guidance and counseling for a patient (Corey, 2012) The alcoholic anonymous group gives guidance and counseling to its members such that they are able to stop the addiction and the ones not yet addicted are able to learn on how to live free from alcohol. Free guidance and counseling is provided until a member is delivered from the alcohol addiction.
Conclusion
It is very important for group leaders to communicate well and share joy and also remain natural. Group leaders in this Alcoholic Anonymous group were very cooperative and showed team work is necessary. Group leaders were dynamic and could cover different topics thus making sure those members understood clearly and given good guidance and counseling. A group is mostly preferred to provide therapy for drug addicts since one is not isolated and members are able to witness the recovery of other people. By doing this one is able to interact with more people and thus getting closer to the community (Kleissler, & McGuinness, 2003). Groups are necessary in treating problems that are commonly experienced by alcohol addicts such as depression, shame and isolation. Group leaders in this group were able to bring people together such that nobody felt isolated.
I was able to identify several challenges facing the group. One of them being the fact that professionals, educated people and the ones employed were not members of this group. Specific commonalities are not seen in this group especially people of a given social class and some legal status and other religious personalities. Another challenge is that several problems are experienced when trying to describe the function that mechanisms of change play in the group treatment of alcoholics.
References
Corey, G. (2012). Theory & practice of group counseling. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.
Cormack, P., & Storbritannien. (2009). The report of the Consultative Group on the Past in Northern Ireland: Second report of session 2009-10 : report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence. London: Stationery Office.
Kleissler, T. A., LeBert, M. A., & McGuinness, M. C. (2003). Small Christian communities: A vision of hope for the 21st century. New York: Paulist Press.
Woodside, M., & McClam, T. (2009). An introduction to human services. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Brooks/Cole.
