SMART Recovery Program - Al-Anon Family Group

hotrod · ~*Service Worker*~

SMART Recovery Program

pinkchip · ~*Service Worker*~

I'm trained in motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy yet AA worked fine for me. I do believe in those other approaches too, but I think AA encompasses them. I guess for me, I needed AA cuz I would try and outsmart the "Smart" recovery people. I cannot outsmart someone on a spiritual level where we are all equals and it's spiritual progress and not others coming at me like they know more scientific stuff. I used to try and do Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on myself and then beat myself up for being a bad therapist to myself LOL. I needed a totally different way of thinking and AA gave me that. SMART recovery might give him just what he needs though. Like Mattie said, the biggest drawback I can think of is that the fellowship is not as large and the worldwide AA fellowship has been such a gift to me I cannot even describe (alanon rocks too of course).

-- Edited by pinkchip on Thursday 14th of March 2013 06:27:53 PM

Path to Serenity · Senior Member

If anyone has any experience with the Smart Recovery Program (alternative to AA) please share. My son is leaning toward this group instead of AA - I have no intention to intervene in his decision but I would like to educate myself a little.

TIA

Path

Cathyinaz · ~*Service Worker*~

When my son went to Community Bridges and they recommend AA, my son would say no I don't believe in God and can't do it. Bridges will then recommend Smart Recovery and also a outpatient counselor thru Southwest Behavioral Health covered under Ahcccs if he has it.

el-cee · ~*Service Worker*~

Just an observation, USA seems to be much more proactive in dealing with the problem of alcoholism. There does not seem to be many services in the UK, well not that I know of.

Path to Serenity · Senior Member

My son fights the idea of AA because it's faith based. Way back when I went into rehab, I didn't have a personal relationship with a HP but I hoped that one existed and was willing to open myself up to the possibility that one did indeed exist but that was me.

Son doesn't have Ahcccs (medicaid) so he'll have to make use of whatever is available - and I assume that whichever recovery path he chooses, good will come from it if the committment & desire is there.

Our sons may not believe in a HP but I'm convinced their HP believes in them.......Trying to be positive here

Mattie · ~*Service Worker*~

El-cee and anyone else who's interested, here is the webpage for SMART Recovery UK: http://www.smartrecovery.org.uk/

It sounds as if they mean well, and if they're using studies to refine their program, that sounds good by me. I know that one doesn't have to be religious to get a lot out of 12-Step groups -- I am not religious myself. But since the supposed religious aspect does seem to be a stumbling block for some people, I'm all for an unambiguously non-religious practical alternative, so no one feels left out. One down side is that they can't have many years of experience. Another is that at this stage of things there won't be meetings available every day all over the world, as AA has. But if you ask me, "Are you for an even greater number of practical groups and organizations to help people become sober?" of course my answer is yes. Hoping they will find good and effective ways as AA has.

This isn't really answering the question -- I don't have any direct experience -- but I noodled around on the web reading the sites.

Path to Serenity · Senior Member

I appreciate the feed back Mattie & Pink. I'm partial to AA & Al-anon because that's where I found my sanity and I know it works when worked. Now I must get back on my own path and let him find his.

I did get to spend a little time with him and a coordinator this morning. He told us how the 1st 12 hrs in detox, he looked around the room and saw in others where his current path was taking him - he was quite shaken by the experience and I saw so much fear in his eyes. Seeing my child in that much fear was like a knife in the heart so I'll hang on to hope and humble myself before my HP & pray for strength & guidance.

Jerry F · ~*Service Worker*~

Aloha Path...great post and program work. The defense of God is a National excuse and many say they don't believe and so therefore won't do the spiritually based recovery program and the courts allows that...becoming enablers themselves. It happens here also and so the addict and alcoholic continue to run their own game until often times it becomes too later for them. Simple reasoning says that if the chemical addiction takes control of your mind, body, spirit and emotions you need to have a power greater than the chemical and the addicted person send the courts out to find one that they will nod to rather than the other way around. What a trip and then the courts, and other public safety departments shun it all themselves. Cunning, Powerful and Baffling ...indeed!! (((hugs))) smile

Path to Serenity · Senior Member

Jerry,

''running their own game'' is what concerns me - just another attempt at manipulation of the situation. I've seen many times where one-on-one therapy sessions were easily manipulated; where being part of a group of peers was far more successful because those that have been there recognize the BS and call it for what it is.

In my own case, I felt that I was un-deserving of help from a HP. Considering what my childhood was like I just knew that I had to be nothing more than pond scum but after opening myself up to my HP, hindsight showed me that I had not been abandoned as I thought. There had been devine guidance all along the way that kept me safe and sane as I walked that dark path.

NOTE: Recent scientific research has discovered that pond scum is very valuable - spread a layer of pond scum in the garden and watch new life emerge

-- Edited by Path to Serenity on Friday 15th of March 2013 11:34:08 AM

CaliBear · Newbie

My RAH has been doing SMART for several months, and really likes it. He is not religious at all, and there were quite a few things about AA that put him off (He has, however, tried several AA meetings just to see how they are and still prefers SMART). I think one of the things he enjoys most about it is how task oriented it is. He also goes to therapy regularly, and once he started getting clearer mentally he really likes and sees how having an understanding of the stressors in his life and how to handle them are tools for the rest of his life (and how to handle things vs. just reaching for the bottle, which is what he did). SMART is also not just for one addiction- in his meetings he said he's had all sorts of people come in- from abusing alcohol, to bulemics, to video game addicts.

I think the program that someone uses may heavily depend on the area- what is available to them, and what the meetings are like there. As others mentioned AA is much more widely available, so that may be a factor if they need that larger base of support. I don't think there's anything wrong with doing and trying both (as my RAH has). I do Alanon while he does SMART, and that is fine for us. I wouldn't be opposed to trying a SMART support group for myself, but there aren't any around here right now and I found my place in Alanon. I also know that he has not been a fan of certain leaders in SMART meetings. So, I think it really can depend.

Path to Serenity · Senior Member

I'll be 100% supportive of any recovery program he chooses. My heart skipped a beat last nite when I saw him sitting on the patio ready 12 steps & 12 traditions. He also spent a good part of the evening journaling. If he isn't careful his HP might just sneak in...lol

God grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can and

the wisdom to know the difference.

Cathyinaz · ~*Service Worker*~

Let go let God my friend

The material presented here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method to exchange information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal level.