• This Month's Poll

Each month, we ask a question (or questions) of interest to our local fellowship and post the results of the previous month's poll.

Feb/Mar 2009 (Poll #4)

Feedback

Number of respondents: 40

Are you in a feedback group?

If you are in a feedback group, how many members are there in your feedback group?

16 members responded. The average number of members is 4.4; the median is 4 members.

If you are in a feedback group, how often do you meet?

16 members responded. 13 meet weekly; 3 meet every other week.

If you are in a feedback group, how long have you been in your feedback group?

16 members responded, with responses ranging from 0.4 years to 10 years. The average was 3.9 years. The median was 3.25 years.

If you are in a feedback group, how does your feedback group support your recovery?

15 members responded:

• "Loving feedback from committed group of program friends who have been with me from near the beginning, seen me grow in my recovery, help me learn about the steps and how to practice the principles in all areas of my life."
• "It provides me with structure and feedback that I cannot get from a meeting. My feedback group knows me and they can tell when I am off track. They witness me in a way that I can't get anywhere else. They also provide a level of feedback about all aspects of my life -- not just program. At this point, it is the cornerstone of my recovery."
• "Immensely! It fits in between talks with my sponsor and regular meetings. My group has helped me get more sobriety than ever before."
• "Tremendously. We can give feedback, which is normally not allowed in meetings. And, after 5 years, these guys know my BS and can call me on it."
• "accountability to FB group members"
• "It's a group that's known me over the long haul, knows my issues, helps me focus on areas I'm struggling with and gives me kudos when they see improvements. It's also another support system in addition to my sponsor, where I can also talk about other areas of life in addition to recovery."
• "The group knows me very well and knows how to both support me and how to help me spot old trouble areas. It is also a place to check in middle circle stuff very explicitly. Being in a feedback group for me is a way to commit more deeply to SAA."
• "They point out my patterns of behavior over time so I can see if I'm being delusional or acting from my addiction. They give me praise when I make progress working my program."
• "they know me more than my sponsor does. They remember the smallest things that really helps me in my recovery."
• "I don't handle problems alone"
• "Wow. It is a safe place to talk in detail about things I couldn't necessarily share at group level. The consistent support from the guys in my group is fantastic; they have become my closest friends. It takes the concept of fellowship and puts it into hyper space."
• "Probably the most important recovery-relationship after my sponsor. My feedback group give me honest feedback about what is happening in my recovery. Sometimes they point out my weaknesses that I am unaware of, other times they point out my strengths that I am unaware of, other times it is just nice to be able to talk and be heard and have that reflected back to me. Often when my own words are reflected back to me, I hear better what I am sayingÉ"
• "Helps me get an outside perspective from a group that cares about my recovery and that I trust."
• "The group discussions and exchanges provide deeper and more varied examples of experience, strength and hope."
• "They hold me accountable for my actions and for any promises I make. I also hear their nagging voices in my head whenever I'm straying from the path. :-)"

If you are not in a feedback group, do you want to be in a feedback group?

If you are not in a feedback and want to be, why?

4 members responded:

• "I wanted to join or form a feedback group as a substitute for therapy, as I cut back the frequency of that. (But with my not having success in getting into a group, and now feeling reluctant to take on a new comittment, I have stopped looking.)"
• "My experience with my previous feedback group suggests that it is highly effective both to establish closer relationships with others in program and to be more highly accountable on a weekly basis for my actions."
• "While attending meetings is important and beneficial, I need a regular weekly opportunity to meet with other members to deepen my work in the program."
• "I need to work this program more consistently. This is a program of action, not wanting, not needing, not knowing......... but action."

If you are not in a feedback and do not want to be, why not?

9 members responded:

• "1) i was not invited to participate in one and 2) i am joining a therapy group in which i hope to be able to address some of the issues that might come up in a feedback group. i am curious to know more about what happens in a feedback group."
• "I don't give a damn."
• "I believe that only a trained therapist is competent to lead a feedback group for me, though I know of at least one member of the fellowship whom I respect very much and who is in a group of four for feedback. In a session from the last convention the presenter shared that the groups really require members to act with a lot of skill, and that they can be difficult."
• I find it essential for my Recovery to balance Program, Sponsees, Relationship and Work evenly. Adding a feedback group into my routine takes time away from my Partner and I'm unwilling to let that happen."
• "was in one, taking a break"
• "in a men's group therapy group"
• "time"
• "I don't have the time at present."
• "I wanted to join or form a feedback group as a substitute for therapy, as I cut back the frequency of that. (But with my not having success in getting into a group, and now feeling reluctant to take on a new commitment, I have stopped looking.)"

Thanks to all who participated!

Note: Responses and comments represent only the opinion of the individual member who responded. Responses have only been edited for spelling.

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