Alcoholics Anonymous is a valuable support group for men and women who have quit drinking and are in ongoing recovery from alcoholism. The fellowship found at the meetings creates a trusted peer network where individuals find strength and hope. They can also become a fail-safe when members are struggling with sobriety.
While AA is an excellent tool for staying sober, it is usually most effective after someone has received the required professional help at a treatment center.
Changes Healing Center, located on Thomas Rd., Phoenix, Arizona, specializes in inpatient and outpatient care for mental health, including alcohol and drug addiction.
We’ve helped many from Phoenix and nearby cities. Phoenix AA meetings are in almost every community: Scottsdale, Tempe, Sun Valle, Glendale, Gilbert, Apache Junction, Mesa, Cave Creek, Surprise, and more. Phoenix AA meetings are available both in-person and online to cater to different preferences.
We advise our program graduates recovering from alcohol use disorder to find local AA meetings and start attending ASAP.
Keep reading to learn more about AA meetings in Phoenix, Arizona, and beyond. And remember, for additional sober support, you can make the confidential call today to get help at Changes Healing!
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) helps people recover from alcoholism. Statistics indicate they have over 1.9 million members around the world.
The group provides a structured program following their “Big Book,” a manual of the twelve steps.
Here is a brief overview of the Twelve Steps, with our own interpretation and not a word-for-word repetition:
Even if you stop drinking by attending the best alcohol rehab center around, you still have much work to do afterward. You may have court obligations, loved ones who feel hurt, or friends to reconnect with.
The Twelve Steps provide a clear pathway to making things right, renewing your purpose, and recommitting to staying clean and sober.
Now that you know a little about the steps, here are a few benefits of attending a 12-step meeting:
It is also worth mentioning that Alcoholics Anonymous is a non-profit organization. They don’t charge you to attend the groups. They will likely pass around the hat and ask for donations – if you can help – but don’t pressure you. That’s key for those who are recovering and trying to find a job or may have delicate finances.
Keep in mind that many of the descriptions of meetings for AA are similar to those of NA meetings in Phoenix, though our separate resource on that topic (linked to above) will provide more specific insights
Finding the right meeting for your recovery journey can be a crucial step in achieving and maintaining sobriety. With so many options available, it’s essential to consider your needs and preferences when selecting a meeting.
AA meetings in Phoenix follow the same steps but sometimes meetings will have different formats. This section covers the meeting types you might discover as you discover AA information. You will also find greater Phoenix, Arizona, meetings in each format.
You can find a more comprehensive list of AZ Phoenix Discussion Groups on the AA website. You’ll also find both in-person and online Phoenix AA meetings for whenever it is impossible to attend in person.
Closed Meetings (Discussion Meeting Offering Meaningful Connections)
Closed meetings are open only to community members who struggle with sobriety. They don’t permit observers, family members, or others in these discussion groups. The closed format allows the person struggling to stay sober a feeling of safety, and it empowers participants to have more honest discussions.
Let’s imagine a young woman named ‘Hannah.’ Like many adults, she struggled with alcohol addiction in silence, fearing the stigma in her family. One night, she drove home from the bar after several drinks.
She was pulled over on Broadway Rd., in Mesa, Arizona, for drinking and driving and received charges of DUI. She attended AA meetings after finishing an outpatient program at Changes Healing Center.
She chose closed meetings because she still struggled with the shame of the DUI – she is not ready yet to share her story at the beginning of her steps.
Finding a closed meeting can be a wonderful experience, especially if you are not sure you’re ready to open up in early recovery.wonderful experience, especially if you are not sure you’re ready to open up in early recovery.
An open meeting is available to anyone who wants to attend. This can include Alcoholics Anonymous members and their families, friends, or a loved one who wants to learn how to support them. The goal of an open meeting is to give more insight into the AA meeting process and offer support to the greater community.
For instance, Gavin finished a recovery program after a decade of excessive drinking. His best friend since childhood, Lucy, had stuck with him through all of it. Most people called Lucy his biggest enabler. Because Gavin’s driver’s license was suspended, Lucy agreed not only to drive him to the AA meeting but to attend with him so she could continue to help him in the coming months and learn how not to enable his alcoholism.
She also plans on attending Al-Anon meetings going forward, which is a great source of support for loved ones of alcoholics and their concerned family members.
There are many open meeting sessions available around the Phoenix, Arizona area. Here are just a few:
An open meeting can be a wonderful way to meet new friends and get to know them better.
Most open-speaker AA meetings in Phoenix are available to those who struggle and their supporters. A subset of the open meeting, these offer a discussion led by a speaker who shares a personal story of alcoholism and recovery. The format is inspiring and gives those who attend a greater vision of how they, too, can overcome alcohol use disorder for good – for themselves or a loved one.
Thomas, whose wife ‘Mary’ had completed recovery at Changes in Phoenix, Arizona, shares how much open speaker meetings inspired him. He was unsure if Mary would continue to make good progress to better health and felt discouraged, especially after a recent relapse.
After hearing a speaker-led discussion and an open meeting, he learned how addiction can sometimes cause slip-ups, even in recovery. Thomas felt more inspired than ever to continue to support his wife.
Remember that these Phoenix, Arizona sessions could be closed or open meeting formats, so check each opportunity carefully if you have a preference.
A Phoenix discussion meeting might be open or closed. Participants have conversations centered on specific recovery topics each week. Many enjoy Phoenix discussion groups because they encourage active participation and ask the men and women who attend to engage in a discussion of their personal alcohol addiction stories.
As her therapist had advised, Destiny attended the Central Ave Phoenix Discussion Meeting the week after leaving the outpatient program at Changes. She felt very shy during the first few weeks and remained silent, observing the 12-step meeting and reading the literature. In her third week, she bought the Big Book and read it.
By week 4, Destiny felt ready to talk about her life in Glendale and how alcohol had impacted it. The open meeting allowed her to progress at her own pace. Destiny is staying sober and has even tried an open meeting.
Whether a close dor open meeting, these are great opportunities to connect with others who share your struggles in the Phoenix, AZ community.
A candlelight meeting might also be a closed or open meeting. Held in low lighting, the meeting may focus on spiritual reflection. It provides a calm environment that can deepen self-reflection and support mental health. The meeting is also more relaxing and may incorporate mindfulness practices through guided meditations.
Meet Xavier, who had attended rehab and was ready to attend Alcoholics Anonymous. Xavier had started meditating to manage his anxiety and alcoholism. The candlelight meeting allowed him to focus on his inner healing, reinforcing the tools he’d learned at Changes Healing Center.
As of this writing, this candlelight meeting is the only one published; check back often, as Alcoholics Anonymous does an amazing job at updating meeting times.
A backyard group is an informal meeting in a private setting—usually in an outdoor setting, as the name suggests. The atmosphere is relaxed and encourages people to open up. These AA members often support each other outside of the formal open discussion meetings.
One drawback is that some backyards lack wheelchair access – be sure to check with the host before you go if that’s a concern for you.
Phoenix, AZ, is the largest metro area in Arizona. Finding an in-person or online meeting, Avondale to Wittman, will be an excellent way to get the ongoing help you need. Whether you prefer a closed or open meeting doesn’t matter.
The main thing is to get to any Phoenix discussion group and become familiar with the Big Book and the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.
If you struggle with alcohol or other mental health concerns, Changes Healing Center can help. We have helped countless people around Phoenix, Arizona, achieve sobriety using evidence-based methods.
Our inpatient or outpatient services include detox, medication-assisted treatment, and counseling. We’ll help connect you with your local Alcoholics Anonymous meeting as part of your aftercare plan, setting you up for ongoing success.
Ready for that alcohol-free life? Make the confidential call and let’s connect today.
Your Guide to Understanding Alcoholics Anonymous Acronyms The value of Alcoholics Anonymous is unquestioned. AA…
Understanding the Timeline for Drug and Alcohol Cravings Cravings play a major role in addiction.…
Positive Affirmations and Journal Prompts to Help Start Your Day Daily affirmation journal prompts combine…
Your Guide to Why People Relapse and How You Can Help Them Loved ones can…
Understanding the Meaning of the AA Seventh Step Prayer Asking for help from a Higher…
Help Your Partner Find Recovery from Alcohol Abuse or Drug Abuse Chances are that you…