This will be subject to change on an individual basis. What will happen is that I will take you through the AA Big Book or The EDA Big Book and show you how to work the 12 steps. I am, however, open to the idea of taking you through a different recovery literature than the AA Big Book or EDA Big Book as long as the format of the steps are the same. I prefer working the steps slightly out of order. There is a logically and studied reason for this. We can talk about all of this later.
The 12 Steps MODIFIED without permission and for my personal use
1. We admitted we were powerless — that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a power or purpose greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of a higher power or purpose of our own understanding.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to ourselves, to another human being, and optionally to a higher power the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. We were entirely ready to have all these defects of character removed.
7. Humbly asked for our shortcomings to be removed..
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact as we understood it, praying only for knowledge of the proper use of will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
My Suggested Itinerary
- Introduction and Boundaries
- Begin Step One
- Conclude Step One, Begin Step Two
- Conclude Step Two, Begin Step Three
- Conclude Step Three, Begin Step Ten
- Put Step Ten into practice, Begin Step Eleven
- Put Step Eleven into practice, Intro to Step Four
- Step Four
- Step Five, Begin Step Six
- Step Six and Step Seven, Begin Step Eight
- Conclude Step Eight, Step Nine
- Conclude Step Nine
- Maintain Step Ten, Eleven, and Twelve
An Outline of Important Ideas and Points:
Boundaries go both ways. They are to protect you and me. We will go over these together on our first meeting
- There is One Requirement - a Willingness to go to any lengths.
- The role of Sponsor and Sponsee is to work the steps - Please see a therapist, social worker or other licensed mental health professional while working with me (if accessible to you). I am not currently licensed and I am only able to provide mentorship through the steps.
- What are the 12 steps are
- A process to having an experience that brings about recovery
- Adapted for our purpose as needed
- They are inclusive to all people with all different beliefs or lack thereof
- What they are not
- The only path to recovery
- Requirements or demands, they are only suggestions
- What is suggested
- Ask lots of questions
- Share yourself as much as possible through this process
- Highlight and mark passages in the readings that you relate to
- Take what you want, leave the rest
- Observe the principle of Anonymity
- Be as honest, open-minded, and willing as you possibly can be
- Pray and meditate (as you understand prayer and meditation) often
- What is Not Suggested
- Working ahead or without guidance
- Completely closing out and idea or concept - stay willing to consider all ideas
- Keeping anything to yourself that you are holding back due to pride or embarrassment
- Suggested readings
- 12 Steps and 12 Traditions by Alcoholics Anonymous - aka 12&12 (will be used in step work and be provided to you)
- Alcoholics Anonymous - aka Big Book (will be used in step work and be provided to you)
- Narcotics Anonymous - aka Basic Text
- EDA Big Book - Eating Disorders Anonymous (Will be used for body image and food issues - no OA at all)
- How Al-Anon Works for Families and Friends of Alcoholics
- What the format will look like - formats may vary depending on the step
- 12&12 reading (on your own or with sponsor)
- Introduction to the step (with sponsor)
- Big book readings for the step (with sponsor)
- Fill out the worksheets for the step (will be done on your time)
- Work and Conclude the step (at the next meeting with sponsor)