800 words TOTAL
Share with your classmates your experiences at the Al-Anon group. Discuss what you observed and the interactions of the participants, especially any particular stories that caught your attention (no names). Also, share your thoughts and feelings of how the group was run, was it a good model to use, and how could you use this type of treatment as an adjunct to your work as a professional.
400 words
AT LEAST TWO REFERENCES
Then, I will upload two (2) classmates DBs and you will write 200 words EACH.
AT LEAST ONE REFERENCE EACH
That is 800 words total.
ChrS DB #1
I was warmly welcomed at two Al-Anon meetings. Due to a limited number of Al-Anon meeting opportunities in my area I attended two meetings with the same group over two weeks. The group averaged about 25 people at each meeting and met at the same time and building location as an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting. This caught my attention as several members of the Al-Anon meeting also had family members attending the AA meeting. I found it interesting that many of the members referred to the alcoholic(s) in their family as ‘my alcoholic’ when telling stories. The two meetings focused on series exploration of the Al-Anon Seventh Tradition, the concept that every group should be self-supporting (Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. [AFBHI], 2008).
During the discussion of how the Seventh Tradition could apply to personal lives, and not just the group, a woman shared how the Al-Anon group was her support anchor as she worked to pick up the pieces of her life and learn how to live well despite the influence of alcohol in her life. Her alcoholic, her ex-husband, dropped her and their kids off in a fast-food parking lot on his way out of the town to go live with his mistress. She found herself homeless and yet was encouraged and felt free because she knew she had to go on without him, depending on him was a physical impossibility for her. With group support, she was learning how to evaluate healthy and unhealthy dependence on individuals/groups around her.
One of the positive aspects to this group, and Al-Anon in general, is that there are no obligatory fees (AFGHI, 2008). Multiple people noted that they could not afford long-term counseling and relied on group interactions and perspectives in lieu of professional counseling services. The financial limitations of Al-Anon also presents limitations; the group also discussed financial concerns of renting facility space for meeting and facing the prospect of rent increase beyond the group capacity. Volunteer positions were advertised and strongly encouraged, potentially increasing member commitment to the organization and group.
The Al-Anon model can serve as an adjunct to professional therapy in several ways. Al-Anon’s traditions, principles, and design closely mirror AA design (AFGHI, 2008). This allows family members to attend a family support group that is closely aligned with alcoholic family members who attend AA, increasing a standard understanding of alcohol/addiction and home support. The lack of membership fees is a significant positive for individuals with limited financial means and the group can serve as normative and experiential support. I see positives in utilizing Al-Anon in professional therapy as an additional option/support for family members of clients dealing with alcoholism, and for clients who have experienced impacts of alcohol in their lifetimes.
Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc (2008). How Al-Anon works for families and friends of alcoholics. Virginia Beach, VA: Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
JoeL DB #2 200 words
The Al-Anon group meeting I attended was small and primarily made up of women of individuals struggling with some form of addiction. There were several similarities in the Al-Anon meetings as I observed in the Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. For example, the group leader opened with the Serenity prayer and reading of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. While Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions are used to meet family member needs, they have been modified to make them applicable to Al-Anon and Alateen groups (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2016). Afterwards, she invited each member to introduce themselves, why they were attending the meeting, and how long they had attended Al-Anon meetings. These ladies were very receptive my presence as an observer, but still encouraged me to share my experiences with family members in addiction or recovery.
Once introductions were complete, the group leader had the group read and discuss the daily mediation from Courage to Change: One Day at a Time in Al-Anon II. As they were discussing the mediation, the group leader pointed out that members were not attending meetings to learn ways to changer their loved ones but to receive support and help in understanding how to navigate the destructive effects of addiction because of their loved ones. It was pointed out that family members of an addict must also come to terms with their inability to create change in the one struggling with addiction. Newcomers are encouraged to understand that their attitudes and behavior may not be helpful to the individual struggling with addiction, even if well intended (World Service Conference Al-Anon Family Groups, 2003). Several members shared past behaviors and efforts to fix things in their homes and relationships with the individual in addiction to the extent that they would make excuses, tell lies to salvage or mend relationships, and worry in excess. However, each member has the ability to release their urge to fix or control the other individual so they can focus on their own needs. In recognizing their own needs, family members are able to connect with others who have had similar experiences and struggles. Through those connections, these family members learn to deal with their obsession, anxiety, anger, denial, and feelings of guilt (World Service Conference Al-Anon Family Groups, 2003).
I thought this was a great model, especially since the group was smaller which allowed for more participation from each member. Through individual participation, others spoke up about their experiences and struggles. This propelled the discussion with little involvement or direction required by the group leader.
Reference
Capuzzi, D., & Stauffer, M. D. (2016). Foundations of addictions counseling(3rd ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.
World Service Conference Al-Anon Family Groups. (2003). Welcome Newcomer. [Pamphlet]. Virginia Beach, VA: Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.