How AA works
No one does this alone.
AA is based on alcoholics sharing their experience with other alcoholics. There are no professional counsellors running the programme and no single person is in charge of another person’s recovery. Members learn from one another.
Meetings
Recovery begins in company.
Regular meetings allow members to talk honestly about drinking and recovery in an environment where others have had similar experiences. For many people, simply discovering that someone else understands becomes an important beginning.
The Twelve Steps
A programme for personal recovery.
The Twelve Steps form the foundation of the AA programme. They offer a practical spiritual framework through which members examine their lives, change patterns that have caused harm and learn a different way of living.
Sponsorship
Experience passed from one person to another.
Many members choose to work with a sponsor: another sober AA member who has experience with the Twelve Steps and can share what has worked for them. A sponsor is not a doctor, therapist or authority. It is one member helping another.
The Twelve Traditions
Principles that keep AA united.
While the Twelve Steps concern personal recovery, the Twelve Traditions help AA groups preserve their unity, independence and primary purpose.
One day at a time
Recovery does not require you to solve the rest of your life today.
The work begins with today. Then tomorrow begins again.