I went to my church (Redeem Christian Church of
God) grief support group counseling section just to observe what they do there.
New members will stand up and introduced themselves to the group. I stood and
did the same but told them am just an observer and asked if it was alright for
me to just listen to them, everyone welcomed me. People just talked about what
was going on with them and some offer there advice on their coping mechanism. At
the end, they had snacks and drinks and some exchange phone numbers.
God) grief support group counseling section just to observe what they do there.
New members will stand up and introduced themselves to the group. I stood and
did the same but told them am just an observer and asked if it was alright for
me to just listen to them, everyone welcomed me. People just talked about what
was going on with them and some offer there advice on their coping mechanism. At
the end, they had snacks and drinks and some exchange phone numbers.
I attended an alcoholic anonymous (AA) group located at Journey of Faith church on Liberty road in Baltimore, MD, 21144. The meeting started at 8pm with a brief introduction by the officiating person. Then, we all prayed and he read the introductory note of what AA group is all about and the 12 steps. He asked if anyone is new and I introduced myself as a new member. They all welcomed me and encouraged me to be coming to meeting. There were few people that attended the meeting which comprised of both men and women. Everyone took turns to talk about their experiences as alcoholics especially the effects it had on their family, relationships, jobs and health problems. the essence of these testimonies is for people to learn from them and be encouraged to stop drinking and remain sober. I am really privileged and happy to have attended the meeting and felt so emotional for the people that lost many things in life because of being alcoholics. The meeting ended by 9.06pm and we said a short prayer. They all encouraged me to be coming as a new member not knowing I was in disguise. I also promised to be coming.
ReplyDeleteI was at the Baltimore intergroup council of alcoholics anonymous on Sunday 11/25/15 at about 0750 hours. I was the first one at the site of the AA meeting. When it was about 0855 hours, I went in the building and the meeting started at about 0910 hours with about 20 members. We introduced ourselves but I did introduced myself as Jay and am new in the city. Although there was a lot of questions that were been asked but I told them I just want to remain anonymous. The first thing that was done was to read out aloud the AA at a glance, followed by AA preamble, then AA -12 steps, then AA-traditions and the prologue too. The topic of discussion was “willingness to quit”. It was so fascinating to hear what participant have gone through. Although there are a couple of members that still admits that there still take a couple of drink daily but they are trying so hard to reduce the amount of drinks they are consuming until they completely quit. Another member that caught my attention was a man that said he had quit consuming alcohol for almost 12 years and since the time he had quit he had not relapsed. He told the reason why he quitted and what the willingness everyone must adhere to so as to quit drinking. Because they thought I was a new member, they kept asking me if I want to share my experience but I kept telling them that I don’t have anything to say for the moment until the end of the meeting. The meeting was being funded primarily by contributors and other external fund they receive which I had no opportunity to asked ad an observer. there are some members that brought in some forms to be signed by the correspondents which I think it’s a court order, or a job related order to join an AA to curb their drinking problem. After wars before the end of the meeting there was a prayer conducted by a volunteer member then words of encouragement from the correspondent to encourage members to keep coming and to know the importance of quitting. The meeting was concluded and I left before anybody tried to approach me.
ReplyDeleteI was at the Baltimore intergroup council of alcoholics anonymous on Sunday 11/25/15 at about 0750 hours. I was the first one at the site of the AA meeting. When it was about 0855 hours, I went in the building and the meeting started at about 0910 hours with about 20 members. We introduced ourselves but I did introduced myself as Jay and am new in the city. Although there was a lot of questions that were been asked but I told them I just want to remain anonymous. The first thing that was done was to read out aloud the AA at a glance, followed by AA preamble, then AA -12 steps, then AA-traditions and the prologue too. The topic of discussion was “willingness to quit”. It was so fascinating to hear what participant have gone through. Although there are a couple of members that still admits that there still take a couple of drink daily but they are trying so hard to reduce the amount of drinks they are consuming until they completely quit. Another member that caught my attention was a man that said he had quit consuming alcohol for almost 12 years and since the time he had quit he had not relapsed. He told the reason why he quitted and what the willingness everyone must adhere to so as to quit drinking. Because they thought I was a new member, they kept asking me if I want to share my experience but I kept telling them that I don’t have anything to say for the moment until the end of the meeting. The meeting was being funded primarily by contributors and other external fund they receive which I had no opportunity to asked ad an observer. there are some members that brought in some forms to be signed by the correspondents which I think it’s a court order, or a job related order to join an AA to curb their drinking problem. After wars before the end of the meeting there was a prayer conducted by a volunteer member then words of encouragement from the correspondent to encourage members to keep coming and to know the importance of quitting. The meeting was concluded and I left before anybody tried to approach me.
ReplyDeleteI had the opportunity to attend one session of the Baltimore City Child and Adolescent Response System recently that responded to a stabbing of a child in a West Baltimore Middle School. BARC provides comprehensive community based services for children in mental health crisis. This was very mind brothering for me because to see how the crime rate has increase within the African American community and more important amongst the young population. It speaks volume of loose family structure. During the session the children voiced of being scared and recognizing the street code of watching their back which very well becomes like second nature a part of the day to day survival. The school also had school grief counselors to help so that resources will not become exhausted; which at times it did because of heighten emotions the children were expressing. The BARC members were very comforting and consoling to the children that were in shock and kept asking questions of why. The room was very dull because of the weather and most important the disturbed and unsettled spirits. I was able to coach and guide with the help of the grief counselor of this 13 year old female that exist in the family of five at which she is the oldest. Her biggest concerns where if she is not around that will protect her brothers and sister. Once we were able to assessed her family support system were able to expressed and encourage her that biggest concern was safety and yourself; at which she should be alert and aware of environment to and from school. The little girl was a little relief however, she expressed little since of still knowing that she is still responsible for her younger siblings.
ReplyDeleteThe group therapy I attended was at an assisted living facility, the session was coordinated by a psychologist, a social worker and a nurse. The group consisted about 12 members in attendance. The session was started by group members introducing themselves and the reason they were there, including their problems and concerns about the treatment they go from staff members in the facility. I observed a lot of back and forth arguments, and the psychologist would usually re-orient them back to the group therapy when they are confronting each other.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed participating in this group therapy. It makes you feel less alone with people that understand what you are going through. I don't really enjoy speaking in groups like that and mostly listened to everyone else. I heard some very interesting stories while there, and even made a new friend there. I might attend another group therapy again to get more insight, but I think one on one therapy. I just think everyone should be treated individually, depending on their personality, their problems, and the way they think and react to things. The coordinators of the support group used therapeutic communication, and they also empathetic with the clients.
Support Group
ReplyDeleteNumber 6, Taylor Avenue Essex MD, 21221 was the Support Group that I found out to be very close to where I leave. At 8:30 am 11/28/2015, I visited the AA place, when I got there in the morning, even though I read about this support group I had a lot going on in my mind; I still have not been in such meeting before. Surprisingly, the meeting started with a prayer after which each individual started giving their testimonies. To my greatest surprise and what touched me most was that they have this kind of sincere mind that when they spoke, I felt like goose bombs running down my body. They started by introducing themselves and saying that they were alcoholics. With the way I saw them; it was convincing that they will be able to help more alcoholics to quite. Some people will say since I quite alcohol my life has come back to normal, some said I now have peace in my home. This was really wonderful. However, the meeting only lasted for 2 hours but the 2 hours was full of aspiring information that can change a life. Honestly, I am happy for this psych class because it has really made me witness many things. Not only that I visited the AA group, I have started to love working with psych patient more than before, this will also help my ministry in future. The AA meeting I attended was really a good experience to me and I also encouraged my fellow class members who are still looking for a place to attend the meeting to check the address above.
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ReplyDeleteI attended an alcoholic anonymous (AA) support group meeting on November 20, 2015 at 6pm, in Towson, MD. The meeting was very interesting, there are about 30 members there in total. Each participate there to me seemed to like were there to get themselves together because the illness of alcoholism has taken a strong hold of them. Everyone honestly came across as they have attempted at some point or another to control or at least get a hold of their alcohol problem but finally chosen the path of a group meeting as their best bet. The meeting had more males than females. As the meeting went on, I got the understanding that AA overall follows a 12 steps recovery model. One of the first steps is to admit that there is a “higher power” and that an individual has the “will” to change if he/she commits to/want to/determine for a newness as far as lifestyle is concerned. I learned today that there are two type of AA groups as well. The is an “open” and “closed” types of meeting sessions normally held to support the needs of each individual. The Open meetings are structures for all support systems members including family, friends, community support individuals who want to attend the meetings in hopes to better support the person at risk.
ReplyDeleteThere was a main speaker, then an open discussion. What I liked most about today’s session is that we were all here to support and to help each other/encouraging each other to be sober one more day. The biggest message out of today’s session is: “Taking it one day at a time”, this seems to be what leads the individual at risk to gain the number of years/months/days of sobriety. Everyday counts in the world of sobriety.
For starters: The Speaker is someone who is very experienced in the program because he/she too has been diagnosed with the illness of alcoholism. The speaker/facilitator is able to share their strengths, weakness, and the up’s and down’s of their journey in recovery. Allowing each other into their lives to benefit along the way. Hope is another great message I picked up while attending this session today. After about 45 minutes of the speaker sharing, we were able to take 15 min break.
Second part after break: Dialogue and open communication where I felt the goal is just to encourage each other and get support without feeling judged because everyone was open about their journey. They all open up and shared their self by putting out their personal experiences. Hearing how someone maintain recovery was helpful. Everyone there to me again seemed sincerer and honest. This group taught me a lot. They taught me to accept myself, accept others wherever they are in their journey. The group also helped to open my eyes to the fact that everyone is going through something and getting together as a group with “one” major commonality can be a great encouragement and opportunity to grow, change, and gain self-control.
The meeting I attended was called Soul Food. Soul Food is located at 931 Pennsylvania Ave. The topic for this day 11/20/2015 was open discussion and there were about 20 individuals there. This was not my first experience at an N A meeting. I have been to several of these meetings because my sister has struggled with an addiction for several years now. The experience was uncomfortable and I was anxious to leave because they have never really worked for her and I had a negative opinion about them. I did listen to one guy speak about his addition and how he got started, he blamed it on women which I found very interesting. He expressed it started with his mom who was an alcoholic. He said there were always open bottles around the house which is how he got started. He now struggles with alcohol and drug addiction. I have to say the people were very welcoming and the one thing I took away from this meeting is that NA and these types of support groups are not only for the addicted person but they can benefit the people who are affected by the addiction of a loved one as well.
ReplyDelete