AA Group Leader Techniques
Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) meeting is an international fellowship whose aim is to help alcoholics achieve sobriety (Yalom, 2005, p.58). In an AA meeting, the Chairperson or group leader opens the session with a preamble of Alcoholics Anonymous followed by brief introductory remarks.
The leader then requests for a silent moment followed by recitations from the Serenity Prayer. Others prefer to read a chapter from the Big Book to help new members know how the AA works. Speakers selected beforehand then talk of their experiences before members discuss a chosen topic. The meeting closes with the observation of a moment of silence followed by a prayer or recitation from the Responsibility Declaration.
Defense Mechanisms in AA Participants
In an AA meeting, the members associated with a common intention to support each other to overcome alcoholism. This is a projective identification defense mechanism where the alcoholics identify with each other and believe that others are like oneself in an AA meeting (Boyd, 2008, p.146). This allows them to avoid a relapse into alcoholism once more. Participants of the AA meeting also employ sublimation defense mechanism to overcome the craving for alcohol.
Family Interaction in AA Meetings
Participants of AA meeting have improved social interaction with their family members. The AA meeting allows the participants to feel a sense of belonging. Participants who suffered communicative disorders like anger or low self-esteem feel confident after attending the AA meeting group therapy.
Crisis Situations Leading to AA Help
Participants attending the AA had a severe alcoholic problem that if not managed could result in personality and psychiatric disorders like impulsivity that involves lack of gratification. They sought help from AA to help them achieve sobriety.
Social Milieu in AA Meetings
The AA meeting offers social milieu that provides home group treatment plans, promotes self-governance and effective interactions among the members.
As per AA’s customs, each group exists independently save for issues involving other group entities. The self-help groups in AA help solve alcohol-related problems affecting the members through informed group conscience. The group also reaches out to suffering alcoholics who need help.
Lessons from AA Self-Help Groups
The group therapy shown by AA meeting help members feel a renewed sense of purpose and also helps them to overcome social and personality disorders like anger or low self-esteem.
People’s Perceptions of AA Meetings
In spite of the success of AA group therapy in helping people with an alcoholic problem, most people take it as a cult based on its history, development, and practices.
Reference List
Boyd, M. (2008). Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams &Wilkins. Print.
Hirschmann, J., & Munter, C. (1988). Overcoming Overeating. New York: Billantine Publishing Company. Print.
Yalom, V. (2005).The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books. Print.