Experiential Assignment
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Experiential Assignment
SaQuisha M. Oliver
School of Behavioral Health, Liberty University
Experiential Assignment
Everywhere, all over the world, substance abuse hurts the life of all ages, races, or
socioeconomic backgrounds. Recovery feels so isolated, but one of its greatest truths is that
change becomes possible when someone takes the first step. Such a choice, though very
personal and difficult, usually is surrounded by others who have taken a similar path. Alcoholics
Anonymous (AA) and Narcotic anonymous (NA) provide just that, a haven: a safe place for
people to meet, heal, and uplift one another. To better comprehend the power within these
circles, I attended two online support meetings: Divine Healing (AA) and Healing Hearts (NA).
Both gave me a glimpse into the tremendous emotional realm of recovery and the shared
practices that allow people to feel recognized and comforted.
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Brief History of Organizations
In 1935, Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith founded Alcoholics Anonymous after obtaining
sobriety using a spiritually oriented process of self-reflection (Alcoholics Anonymous, 2024).
Their experiences gave rise to the Twelve Steps that stress self-accountability and dependence
on a Higher Power. These tenets were published in 1939 in The Big Book, an important text that
married structure for recovery with personal narratives. This book came to influence AA's
philosophy by giving those suffering from addiction both hope and useful tools. According to
Alcoholics Anonymous (2024), The Big Book has been profoundly important to all peer recovery
groups and clinical treatment programs.
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) was established in Los Angeles in 1953 by Jimmy Kinnon and
others to fill a very critical void in addiction recovery services. Indeed, as Lewis (2017) explains,
AA offered a very robust model for recovery from alcoholism; however, the substancespecific
language excluded individuals who suffered from other addictions. NA adopted AA's Twelve-
Step approach with an emphasis on spiritual development and personal responsibility while
extending the definition of addiction to encompass an array of substances and behaviors.
According to Lewis (2017), this broadness allowed NA to embrace individuals from every walk of
life and addiction experience into a peer-driven, spiritually based recovery fellowship centered
on meeting, sponsoring, and service.
The AA and NA work as peer-led, self-supporting bodies and are open internationally.
They work under a chronic-relapsing model of addiction, which best responds to fellowship
arranged in time, learning through their narratives, and behavioral techniques. Their Twelve-
step program develops accountability and relational support without imposing treatment by
trained professionals. This very notion has become the basis for countless evidence-based
adaptations in clinical and community settings.
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Structure of Meeting
The Divine Healing AA meeting followed a clear and very nurturing format to build
relationships and sustain recovery. It opened with the collective recitation of the Serenity Prayer,
establishing a reflective atmosphere grounded in unity and emotional composure. Open to all
participants, the hour-long attendance incorporated ritual and relational practices. Before that
session began, everyone in the group observed the chip system, the symbolic tradition where
people get chips as markers of milestones in sobriety. Thus, for now, a white chip was issued to
a newcomer; the others were honored for their lengths of abstinence with recognition of the
importance of incremental progress. After this, a guest speaker offered a reflective testimony of
their addiction and recovery to enlighten and encourage those present. In the last segment,
invited participants would have the chance to share their reflections and updates of the week
with all present, with the intention of evoking support and empathy in an act of communion.
Olson et al. (2021) emphasize the transformational effect of storytelling in recovery contexts,
arguing for its power to strengthen relational bonds and reinforce perseverance. This meeting
ended with a second recitation of the Serenity Prayer, reaffirming the group’s united spiritual
commitment.
The effectiveness of faith-based interventions in reaching a point of abstinence is reiterated by
Yeung (2022), thus further confirming the role of AA's spiritually grounded fellowship in the
promotion of sustained recovery.
The Healing Hearts NA meeting worked within a fluidly patterned outline yet
purposefully followed the basic literature on Narcotics Anonymous: recovery is nurtured by
group strength, shared experience, and spiritual principle. The meeting began with testimonies
provided by long-term sober members, which served as points of motivation and connection for
all who were there. These sessions alternated between periods where the NA literature was
discussed, using pamphlets, encouraging structured consideration of core recovery themes. A
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ritual of distributing sobriety key tags, marking milestones from white (surrender and
recommitment symbols) through glittered or black (long-term abstinence), was pivotal. These
tokens acted as visible affirmations of individual sobriety journeys and a larger collective effort.
As Dekkers et al. (2020) remark, NA's structural elements of fellowship and ritualized peer
support are key in sustaining recovery, allowing for a non-stigmatizing space in which recovery is
birthed in the depth of relational connection and shared accountability.
Moments of Reflection
Attending these AA and NA meetings opened a beautiful window into the depth of the
emotions and relationships involved in recovery processes. Even though I was a little uncertain
about how the groups would receive during my introduction, I was quickly put at ease by the
welcoming gestures of both groups. During sharing time, I chose to stay silent and just observe.
What became clear was the strong sense of mutual respect and empathy among participants.
Their openness and care created a space where vulnerability was met with compassion.
Both meetings expressed an emotional balance between mourning and resilience.
Rituals such as the Serenity Prayer, the chip ceremonies, and the bestowing of key tags gave
order and symbolic witness to progress. One of the most moving moments was when a woman
received her first white chip, her emotionally charged response met with hushed applause and
gentle encouragement. These events captured the essence of the shared journey that recovery
is. Galatians 6:2 (NIV) states that you should "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way, you
will fulfill the law of Christ." This quote described the spirit of the meetings in which healing
found its sustenance in community, ritual, and collective care. These will guide my future clinical
practice of emphasizing the importance of community-based support and spiritually informed
interventions.
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Integration into Clinical Practice
As I prepare for my role in clinical practice, AA and NA seem to be a beneficial addition to
traditional therapy for clients particularly in the areas of addiction, trauma, and identity issues.
These peer-led groups provide structure, emotional support, and shared responsibility, all of
which hold value in collaboration with the therapeutic objectives. According to Shalaby and
Agyapong (2020), peer support that draws on lived experience can foster resilience, connection,
and meaning. Furthermore, watching AA and NA meetings can help clinicians understand how
others talk about recovery and how group dynamics are played out. Such understanding goes a
long way towards informing culturally sensitive and emotionally aware care plans. I plan to
recommend AA and NA to those clients who may benefit from ongoing support and a sense of
community. The meetings encourage authenticity, model possibilities for recovery, and provide
a safe venue for healing outside of the therapy office.
Referring clients to AA or NA groups requires far more than making a phone call to set a
time; it demands a trauma-informed perspective respecting emotional safety and relational
trust. I begin with an explanation of the structure and values of these peer-led spaces,
emphasizing that attendance is voluntary and self-driven. Framing the experience as an
observation can help lessen vulnerability and promote autonomy. This exploration of cultural
and spiritual considerations plays an important role in ensuring that the referral resonates with
the client’s lived experience. When offered alongside treatment, these meetings maintain
therapeutic goals with consistent support, modeling of recovery language, and space for healing
through ritual and connection.
Understanding and Value of Support groups
AA and NA meetings have shown how peer-led environments can be emotionally safe
spaces for those trying to navigate their way through addiction and trauma. Within these
groups, vulnerability met with empathy and accountability, thereby creating trust and
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strengthening cohesion. Forms of fellowship such as anonymity and sponsorship supported
relational continuity, while the spiritual component offered participants a shared sense of
purpose and grounding. These factors together created a culture in which individuals felt safe to
share, reflect, and bond.
Drawing from this experience, support groups really do enhance the recovery process by
providing steady, community-centered spaces that act as a complement to clinical care. Unlike
typical therapy, these groups draw upon peers' support and lived experience to help others
navigate the complexities of sobriety. The telling of their own stories and encouragement from
one another builds resilience and offsets the isolation often felt in early recovery. I witnessed
the ways members acknowledged one another's progress and welcomed newcomers with a
spirit of kindness, a rhythm of hope and joint responsibility. Often for those clients without solid
support systems, the meetings become a source of structure, connection, and ongoing healing.
Conclusion
The deadly grip of addiction leaves its imprint on various communities, but for those
willing to confront it, AA and NA create a sacred space for renewal. In Divine Healing and
Healing Hearts, I witnessed how spiritual grounding and relational care undergird the emotional
aspect of recovery. These gatherings are safe havens that open themselves to receive the grief
and vulnerability of the members with kindness and support. Healing is not an isolated process
but rather nurtured by the surrounding presence of others. These meetings show that healing is
not a solo endeavor but one nourished with shared support.
Reference
Alcoholics Anonymous. (2024). History of A.A. | Alcoholics Anonymous. Www.aa.org.
https://www.aa.org/aa-history
Dekkers, A., Vos, S., & Vanderplasschen, W. (2020). "Personal recovery depends on NA unity":
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an exploratory study on recovery-supportive elements in Narcotics Anonymous Flanders.
Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy, 15(1), 53.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-020-00296-0
Lewis, C. E. (2017). The History of Narcotics Anonymous. Journal of Addiction Medicine and
Therapy.https://www.jscimedcentral.com/jounal-article-info/Journal-of-
AddictionMedicine-and-Therapy/The-History-of-Narcotics--Anonymous-7963#
NIV. (2011). New International Version (NIV) - Version Information - BibleGateway.com.
Biblegateway.com; BibleGateway.
https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/NewInternational-Version-NIV-Bible/
Olson, M. E., Smith, M. L., Muhar, A., Paul, T. K., & Trappey, B. E. (2021). The strength of our
stories: a qualitative analysis of a multi-institutional GME storytelling event. Medical
education online, 26(1), 1929798. https://doi.org/10.1080/10872981.2021.1929798
Shalaby, R. A. H., & Agyapong, V. I. O. (2020). Peer Support in Mental Health: Literature
Review. JMIR mental health, 7(6), e15572. https://doi.org/10.2196/1557
Yeung J. W. K. (2022). Faith-based intervention, change of religiosity, and abstinence of
substance addicts. Revista brasileira de psiquiatria (Sao Paulo, Brazil : 1999), 44(1), 46–
56. https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-4446-2020-1576Links to an external site.
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