Self-Help Groups
The Theory and History of Self-Help Groups
Self-help groups are sometimes known as mutual aid or support groups. They are voluntary associations of people who share something in commonusually a desire to overcome a personal problem or cope with a problem in the family that they all might share. These groups have been in existence in their modern form for decades and can be traced back to the early 20th century.
The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group, for example, was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith. It is perhaps one of the most well-known self-help groups in the world. AA's 12-step program is in fact a model for many other groups dealing with a variety of issues, like substance abuse or any kind of addiction. The success of AA can be attributed to its peer-led approach, where members support one another in their recovery journey.
The rise of self-help groups is due to different factors. One factor is the awareness that people who share in some trauma or who have experienced a particular problem can actually be sources of help for one another: they can provide unique support (because they have been there and done that) and understanding to others who are in similar situations but who may be further along or behind on the...
…Between Self-Help and Psychotherapeutic Group TherapySelf-help groups and psychotherapeutic group therapy both offer support to individuals facing challenges, but they differ too in some ways. Self-help groups are typically peer-led. In contrast, psychotherapeutic group therapy is led by trained professionals. Another difference is that self-help groups offer emotional support, whereas psychotherapeutic group therapy is more structured towards providing therapeutic interventions and outcomes. Then there is the difference of participation: membership in self-help groups is voluntary, and people can join or leave at any time. Psychotherapeutic groups, however, might be a part of a structured treatment plan. Cost is yet another difference: self-help groups are often free or have a minimal cost, while psychotherapeutic…
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international organization that was formed to help out individuals who have had drinking problems. The Alcoholics Anonymous is an example of a non-profit, non-professional organization, and it is basically an organization that was formed to serve as a medium for individuals and people to have a 'helping hand,' an immediate hand wherein an individual can get help without the embarrassing and tiring process of membership registration
Alcoholics Anonymous The first face-to-face meeting I attended was an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting at the United Methodist Church in Greenville, SC on a Friday night. Smoking was allowed at the meeting, which was held in a wheelchair-accessible facility. Coffee and snacks were served. I arrived ten minutes early. Several others were also there early, including the person setting up a table full of literature. The person setting out the literature
First, the person who attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings admits that their drinking has become out of hand. The admission of a problem is the first step toward recovery. Second, the person who joins Alcoholics Anonymous, however informally, finds solace that he or she is not alone. Suddenly the individual is surrounded by caring, compassionate, and supportive persons who share similar stories and who completely withhold judgment. In fact, one of
Alcoholics Anonymous: A Personal Account of my Experience at an AA 12-Step Meeting A Personal Account of my Experience at an AA 12-Step Meeting: Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics anonymous groups are groups where recovering alcoholics, and alcoholics with a desire to stop drinking meet to educate and inspire each other about their journey with alcoholism, and their decision to restore their lives. This text presents a personal account of what I experienced in
Alcohol Anonymous Observation Alcoholic Anonymous Observation I had heard the parable before; "give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime." In many ways it had already resonated in my head, but this perspective was a skewed one from not having had to experience what it is like to be in a position not to want to help yourself. That was
Alcoholics Anonymous meeting: April 17, from 6:30 to 7:30 P.M. In Paso Robles, California. I previously had contacted the leader of the AA meeting to see if I could get permission to attend a session. He wondered if I was in the media, and I told him this was for a college class; and after he explained that everything is open for discussion in these meetings he made clear that
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