U08d1-Group Purpose - discussion questions PDF

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U08d1-Group Purpose Second C.H.A.N.G.E. Recovery Center Pine Bluff, Arkansas The purpose of self-help at the Second C.H.A.N.G.E. Recovery Center is to target trouble areas in individual lives that are caused by drug and alcohol addiction. By offering drug and alcohol education, daily meetings, and accepting referrals from the criminal justice system for one-on-one counseling (by appointment only), the center can assist their clients to achieve long term recovery. This learner does think that self help programs help the counseling process simply because it can lighten the load of a counselor. According to Corey & Corey (2007), community workers can play an important role by encouraging clients to make full use of resources within their own communities, including community centers, churches, extended families, neighborhood social networks, and ethnic advocacy groups. In order to function in an open environment, these influences can be helpful. This learner attended an open 12-step meeting on May 14, 2013 from 12pm-1:00pm. The meeting was held at a center that is located in the city limits, open business area. There were fifteen in attendance (excluding self and workers from the county Comprehensive Care Unit, but including the director), with the dominant group being black males. The meeting began at 12pm with insight given from the previous meeting. “Sonny” read from a book and emphasis was put on different phrases from the book. One point in which he had stated, “Every strong and beautiful flower has a strong and beautiful root”. He continued to say, “I’ve found my root, although I have not fully bloomed, I’m budding”. The thought for the day was, “Do you think enough about other alcoholics to continue with them as long as necessary?” After introducing herself, one female responded, “Yes, I do care because someone cared for me…God cared for me to allow me to make the choice to become a better person”. The conversations went around the room and within their personal comments they talked about what made them do the things they did, what would “trigger” their habits. Some liked the way they smelled with their perfume, while others couldn’t resist the frost on a cooled beer. At the end of the session, a basket was passed around and everyone gave their donations. The meeting ended with a prayer and a motivational chant. It take a lot of courage to admit and/or accept the mere fact that you an alcoholic, an addict or anything that takes you away from “self”. As each introduced him/herself, they stated their names and their addictions. As they spoke, they spoke with a high level of intelligence. By this learner attending this session and/or seeing these clients for the first time, she does not know how far they have come, or how far they will go. One female stated,”…I’m stronger now than I’ve ever been.” This learner believes this to be true …once you overcome an obstacle; you become stronger with every new challenge. References: Corey, M.S. & Corey, G.(2007). Becoming a helper (5th ed). Belmont, CA: Thompson Brooks/Cole....