On March 3, 2016, I attended the Alcoholics Anonymous group. The reason I made the decision to observe this particular group is simply because my dad is an alcoholic. I wanted to observe this group for him because I’m almost certain that he wouldn’t attend a group that’s so open to their common problems. I wanted to experience others testimonies to know that my dad isn’t the only one struggling with this problem. I also wanted to attend this particular group to discover how the leader interacts with the members of the group. By doing so, this would hopeful help me to be open with my dad and interact with him better.
My initial impressions of this group were that the members weren’t going to be as open with each other, (which I …show more content…
The AA group (Alcoholics Anonymous) is self-supporting, multiracial, and apolitical. Education or age is not a requirement. The mission of Alcoholics Anonymous is to endeavor recover from alcoholism. Their norms are to stay sober while attending the meetings.
Leadership Positions While I attended the Alcoholic Anonymous meeting, I noticed that there was only one chairperson and what seem to be a treasurer. The chair person also took leadership of the meeting. He started the meeting and told everyone they can be themselves here. He also shared his testimony that he was an alcoholic.
Membership
The members of the group were all alcoholics that are in the process to achieve sobriety. The members that were present were sober. Some of the members knew each other and a few were new to the group. The members were majority male and about three females. The group wasn’t multiracial, in fact, they were all White American. The members shared their testimonies and remained attentive to each other. …show more content…
The meeting was held in the basement of the church. The members sat in an open circle where everyone was able to see the person that was talking. I love communication in a circle arrangement because I can give and receive eye to eye contact. The room had lots of space. There were chairs and recliners that made everyone feel comfortable, (at least I felt comfortable). They had complimentary coffee and water for the members of the group. It was an open space which would allow wheelchair access.
Conclusion
The experience of Alcoholics Anonymous was truly a personal blessing for me. The willingness of those members to share their stories and own their decisions made me feel that I can partake in a conversation with my dad. I can trust him to open up and he deserves that chance to explain himself. When I left the group, the impression I had was hope. They gave me hope that my dad can survive and change his life around. It isn’t too late for