Twelve Step Information

Twelve Step Group Tips:

Many of my clients find Twelve Step (Self-Help) Groups an important part of their recovery. While I cannot endorse any Twelve Step groups, I recognize these Groups can be an important resource for my clients. Self-Help groups offer experience, strength, hope, the support of a group and community education. These self-help Groups are peer run and self-selected. Therefore, the quality of a group can vary from organization to organization or even meeting to meeting. Here are 5 tips that will help you get started.

1) Go to six to ten meetings before you make a decision to continue or stop.

2) If possible, go to as many different meetings at different times and locations as you can. This might not be possible for smaller organizations. But, for larger organizations like AA or OA, you will find a wide choice of meetings that attract like-minded people. Find a group you can enjoy.

3) Find a sponsor who has been successful at their program for at least 3-5 years.

4) Ask your sponsor to invite you to a home group. Home groups are not public groups. Home groups are private smaller invitation-only groups where the conversation can discuss topics more intimately than in public meetings.

5) Get involved. Volunteer to help out at the meetings to get to know people there.

6) Consider the source. Not everything you hear in a 12-Step Group is gospel. Ask yourself, is this person providing me with information based on their success in the program? Or, is this information coming from someone who is still struggling with their own problems? Remember, people you meet will be in various stages of recovery or even denial about their problems. Stick with the winners, especially in the beginning of your own recovery.

7) Avoid dual relationships, especially early in recovery. It's fine to get emotional support from sponsors and your 12-Step friends. But avoid romantic entanglements or business relationships with your 12-Step colleagues, especially in the first 2 or 3 years of your recovery.

For more information about the Twelve Step Groups listed on this page, contact the National Group or the local chapter using the URL provided. You will generally find these groups most welcoming and willing to answer your questions about their activities.

Recommended Readings:

Adult Children of Alcoholics

Adult Children of Alcoholics: http://adultchildren.org

Alanon National: http://www.acafg.com *

Alanon Portland: http://www.al-anonportlandoregon.org

* (Ask for meetings related to ACAs)

Alcohol Addiction

Alcoholics Anonymous National: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Portland Oregon: http://www.pdxaa.com/

Alcoholics Anonymous Vancouver Washington: http://www.vanintgrp.com/

Clutterers Anonymous

Clutterers Anonymous National: http://www.clutterersanonymous.net/

Codependency (Alcohol & Drugs)

Alanon National: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/

Alanon Portland Oregon: http://www.al-anonportlandoregon.org/

Alanon Vancouver Washington: http://www.al-anonportlandoregon.org/

Nar-anon National: http://nar-anon.org/index.html

Codependency (Sex Addiction)

Codependents of Sex Addicts Anonymous: http://www.cosa-recovery.org/

S-Anon (For Codependents of Sexaholics): http://www.sanon.org/

Co-Sex & Love Addicts Anonymous: http://www.coslaa.org/

Debt

Debtors Anonymous National: http://www.debtorsanonymous.org/

Debtors Anonymous Portland Oregon : http://www.oregondebtorsanonymous.org/schedule.htm

Drug Addiction

Cocaine Anonymous National: http://www.ca.org/

Cocaine Anonymous Portland Oregon & Southwest Washington: http://www.caorwa.org/

Crystal Meth Anonymous National: http://www.crystalmeth.org/

Marijuanna Anonymous National: http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org/

Marijuanna Anonymous Portland Oregon: http://www.madistrict11.org/

Narcotics Anonymous National: http://www.na.org/

Narcotics Anonymous Portland Oregon: http://www.portlandna.com/

Gambling

Gamblers Anonymous National: www.gamblersanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Portland Oregon: http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/mtgdirOR.html

Internet

Online Gamers Anonymous: www.olganon.org

Sex Addiction

Sex Addicts Anonymous National: http://www.sexaa.org/

Sex Addicts Anonymous Portland Oregon: http://www.portlandsaa.org/

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous National: http://www.slaafws.org/

Sexaholics Anonymous National: http://www.sa.org/

Sexaholics Anonymous Portland Oregon: http://www.saportlandmetro.org/

Sexual Recovery Anonymous National: http://sexualrecovery.org/

Weight Loss

Over-Eaters Anonymous National: http://www.oa.org/index.htm

Over-Eaters Anonymous Oregon: http://www.oregon-oa.org/meetings.htm

For Individual, Couples or Marital Counseling Contact:

Jacob Spilman, LPC, LMFT, CEAP

Spilman & Associates LLC

833 SW 11th Avenue Suite 218

Portland OR 97205

(503) 227-3187

email: jacobspilman@msn.com

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