Twelve step fellowship Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Twelve Steps Fellowship Alcoholics Anonymous

The first twelve step fellowship Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith, known to AA members as “Bill W.” and “Dr. Bob”, in Akron, Ohio. They established the tradition within the “anonymous” twelve-step programs of using only first names “at the level of press, radio and film.

The two primary goals of the Twelve Step Programme are to motivate the client to develop a desire to quit using substances. And also to acknowledge the need for active participation in 12-step programming as a means of achieving recovery.

At Tabor Group, clients are introduced to the Twelve Steps at an early stage through group therapy & reading materials.

The following are the original twelve steps as published by Alcoholics Anonymous

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
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 out.
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.

Guiding Principles

The guiding principles were gradually defined as the Twelve steps Tradition. A singleness of purpose emerged as Tradition Five: “Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers”.

The twelve step philosophy refers to a particular view of the recovery process. It emphasizes the importance of accepting addiction as a disease that can be arrested but never eliminated. Enhancing individual maturity and spiritual growth, minimizing self-centeredness, and providing help to other individuals who are addicted (e.g., sharing recovery stories in group meetings, sponsoring new members; Humphreys et al., 2004).

The general guidelines for recovery based on this philosophy have been distilled down to what has been described as the Twelve Steps “six pack”. Don’t drink or use drugs, go to meetings, ask for help, get a sponsor, join a group, and get active (Caldwell & Cutter, 1998).

At the very least, the twelve Step model provides support, encouragement and accountability for people who genuinely want to overcome their addiction. The sponsorship model as well as regular meeting times encourage the kind of social support that has helped countless people stay clean.

Get Help at Tabor Group

If you or a loved one are suffering from an addiction, get help today. We can help you recover in a healthy, friendly environment and beat your addiction. Don’t hesitate to contact one of our counselors today at +353 (21) 488 7110 or email us at Info@taborgroup.ie and we can help you.