Alcoholics Anonymous is a national global mutual aid fellowship founded in 1953 by Bill W. Godfrey. AA is spiritual non-profit and secular. Its only required membership requirement is the desire to quit drinking. The fellowship provides its members with an environment in which they can express their emotional and physical vulnerabilities and deal with their issues on a much-needed level. Alcoholics are able to share their feelings with others while overcoming their problems at the same time.
Alcoholics Anonymous also offers various forms of therapy for its members. These therapy sessions may include one-on-one counseling group counseling or family therapy. Therapy programs focus on the individual’s specific problem to determine the most effective way to deal with it. Members of the fellowship may participate in a variety of treatment programs. Some have success with outpatient therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy inpatient rehab and outpatient residential treatment. Others have more success with inpatient treatment like inpatient rehab or inpatient care.
Alcoholism can affect the lives of a family in a number of ways. It destroys the family affects relationships with family friends co-workers and employers and creates problems for family and friends. Many Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are structured around a theme. Often the theme is the need for recovery in general. A common theme at these meetings is the importance of recognizing the value of self and community.
