Self-Help Assignment Reflection Paper
Meeting Information The experiences that I attained from attending two dissimilar self-help meetings were beneficial and applicable to my role as a future social worker. It is imperative to have a strong sense of self and engage in opportunities that encourage personal reflection especially when working in the helping profession. This occasion allowed me to explore my thoughts and feelings and reflect on the impact that these meetings had on me personally and professionally. I was present at two self-help meetings; alcoholics anonymous, “AA”, and narcotics anonymous, “NA”. Both meetings lasted an hour and were open to the public. I attended the AA meeting on June 6th and the Narcotics meeting on June …show more content…
I attended the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in support for my uncle whom is a recovering substance abuse abuser. As a family, we had been planning a visit where we would all attend as a milestone for his recovery. This coincided perfectly with the requirements of this course and the opportunity to apply my perspective thorough the eyes of a future social worker. Prior to attending this meeting I felt excited. I was going with a big group (mother, sister, aunt, and four cousins) and my uncle was elated to have us there to see him receive his ninety day coin. It had been a tumultuous journey up to this point and we were all so proud of him for making it this far. When we arrived at the location I remember feeling a little anxious because of the uncertainties of what it would be like. We were unsure if we would have to speak or have assigned seats. Prior to this experience I was only able to assimilate my assumptions about AA meetings with what I had seen over the media. Once we arrived, I was immediately relaxed about being outside. There were a lot of people in attendance at this meeting which made me feel more comfortable. People were mingling under picnic tables or brought their own blankets or chairs to sit on during the duration of the meeting. I found it comforting to sit back and blend into the crowd and listen to the stories and observe the function and processes of the …show more content…
Currently, I took these experiences and thought about how children are directly impacted by a destructive environment such as the ones created as a result of substance abuse. In the future I hope to specialize with children who have experienced trauma or have mental health, behavioral, and/or emotional difficulties. What I learned through these experiences is very applicable to what I want to do in the future. I thought that the process of the AA and NA meetings were beneficial and a safe place for people to share, reflect, and relate with others who are in similar situations to them. You are introduced to a diverse group of people who all have something in common. This encourages an environment of sharing, learning, and growing. People are allowed to join and leave as needed and rather than pressure to make beneficial choices there is encouragement and collaboration to do so. When addressing someone with ambivalence about coming I would share that the most difficult part of the process is showing up to the meeting. Once you are there the hardest part is over and now you can relax and see where the process takes you. There was not a specific part of the self-help process that I felt negativity impacted the group members. Although the meetings were faith based I felt that the message was powerful and could be interpreted to fit the person’s
Meeting Information The experiences that I attained from attending two dissimilar self-help meetings were beneficial and applicable to my role as a future social worker. It is imperative to have a strong sense of self and engage in opportunities that encourage personal reflection especially when working in the helping profession. This occasion allowed me to explore my thoughts and feelings and reflect on the impact that these meetings had on me personally and professionally. I was present at two self-help meetings; alcoholics anonymous, “AA”, and narcotics anonymous, “NA”. Both meetings lasted an hour and were open to the public. I attended the AA meeting on June 6th and the Narcotics meeting on June …show more content…
I attended the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in support for my uncle whom is a recovering substance abuse abuser. As a family, we had been planning a visit where we would all attend as a milestone for his recovery. This coincided perfectly with the requirements of this course and the opportunity to apply my perspective thorough the eyes of a future social worker. Prior to attending this meeting I felt excited. I was going with a big group (mother, sister, aunt, and four cousins) and my uncle was elated to have us there to see him receive his ninety day coin. It had been a tumultuous journey up to this point and we were all so proud of him for making it this far. When we arrived at the location I remember feeling a little anxious because of the uncertainties of what it would be like. We were unsure if we would have to speak or have assigned seats. Prior to this experience I was only able to assimilate my assumptions about AA meetings with what I had seen over the media. Once we arrived, I was immediately relaxed about being outside. There were a lot of people in attendance at this meeting which made me feel more comfortable. People were mingling under picnic tables or brought their own blankets or chairs to sit on during the duration of the meeting. I found it comforting to sit back and blend into the crowd and listen to the stories and observe the function and processes of the …show more content…
Currently, I took these experiences and thought about how children are directly impacted by a destructive environment such as the ones created as a result of substance abuse. In the future I hope to specialize with children who have experienced trauma or have mental health, behavioral, and/or emotional difficulties. What I learned through these experiences is very applicable to what I want to do in the future. I thought that the process of the AA and NA meetings were beneficial and a safe place for people to share, reflect, and relate with others who are in similar situations to them. You are introduced to a diverse group of people who all have something in common. This encourages an environment of sharing, learning, and growing. People are allowed to join and leave as needed and rather than pressure to make beneficial choices there is encouragement and collaboration to do so. When addressing someone with ambivalence about coming I would share that the most difficult part of the process is showing up to the meeting. Once you are there the hardest part is over and now you can relax and see where the process takes you. There was not a specific part of the self-help process that I felt negativity impacted the group members. Although the meetings were faith based I felt that the message was powerful and could be interpreted to fit the person’s