Q re daily reflection groups
 

Hello. I've been using your daily readings list for at least a month now. Thanks a lot for them.

I have a question, and hoping it's ok if I post it in a couple of forums here which seem related to the question. I'm an Al-Anonner & studying to become a hospital chaplain. I'm doing a chaplaincy internship at a hospital & was recently assigned to its chemical dependency unit. The unit's asked me to make a 30-minute morning reflection period available to patients Mon-Fri 8:30-9 am, and I'm not sure how best to use the time. The group will be voluntary and could be very small. The unit relies heavily on 12-step philosophy.

If anyone out there has any experience with this kind of thing and/or any ideas about how to structure such a time/group, I'd love to hear about it.

Thank you!

HI and welcome

So glad you found us and thank you for reaching out with your question

Most of our 12 step groups have a "non-organizational structure" which many folks do not really understand but.... By the Grace of God --it has worked for us for 75 + years
What I might suggest is that you ask the group for ideas..
What I've done is to go in with a couple meditational books and gave them a choice..

We read on whatever day it was & then have about 10-15 minutes of open dialog or discussion and then quiet reflection. However.. often if they are real new to recovery you might find that 15 or even 5 or 10 minutes of quiet reflection is really too much for them. Therefore you may want to be a bit flexible.. Start with just a few minutes and slowly extend it.

Has anyone suggested to you to possibly browse thru the NA or the AA book? You might also call a central office in your area[listed in the phone book] and pick up some literature that may give you some ideas...

In each area..[speaking for the AA community] there are trusted servants that would be very helpful for you at the District level. These folks can be found thru the central office as well. For example there is an individual that deals primarily with the professional community, another one that provides the literature for the area, another facilitates getting meetings into the jails and treatment centers, etc,.

I hope this helps and I hope you come back in here to let us know how it goes and just to chat with us and let us get to know you and visa versa.

Thank you again for reaching out

In early recovery I went to therapy at Family Services. I introduced them to the AA 12 Steps. They hadn't heard of them. They asked how I could process and work through things, and I told them about the 12 Steps. That was 20 years ago, and a lot has changed. People in recovery houses and detoxes were alcoholics who had stayed sober for several years and could talk one on one with clients, because they had been there. They were replaced by college students who went by the book.

I worked in the women's detox, jail, and treatment centers as a volunteer. After the new laws and the government take over, it just wasn't the same.

Your Al-Anon group should have a service sponsor, there is no harm in reading other literature, it helps to understand where the alcoholic and the addict came from.

Check the site in the different areas and I think you will find that the common denominator between all fellowships, is the 12 Steps.

Wishing the best for you.