A Sponsorship Guide for 12-Step Programs [Paperback]

M. T. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 1998

A Sponsorship Guide for 12-Step Programs offers the reader far-ranging suggestions, based on concrete experience, for the most common issues and dilemma that arise when one agrees to become a sponsor in any 12-step program Seventeen sponsors (with collective recovery time of over 250 years) share their experience and insights as they describe common situations sponsors face and relate the solutions they used. This is the first book of its kind--for sponsors, by sponsors.

Dived into three main sections--"Sponsorship Basics," "Working the Steps with a Sponsee," and "Common issues that Come Up"--this book will be of use to anyone who has agreed to be a sponsor, or anyone who does not have access to a sponsor.

A Sponsorship Guide is like having a sponsor in a book.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

AA to Z is a reader-friendly paperback chock full of useful information for new Alcoholics Anonymous participants, students of 12-step programs, and the general reader curious to know how such programs operate. Cavanaugh, managing editor for Reader's Digest General Books, presents a brief overview of AA's beginnings, its connection to the Oxford movement, and its enduring steps to sobriety. "Through the years," Cavanaugh states, "the people who live a 12-step life have formed a unique culture, with a language, history, and set of customs all its own. This book attempts to document that culture." Introductory comments are followed by "Jack's Story," a prototype of addiction and recovery, as well as an alphabetic "addictionary" of AA jargon. In A Sponsorship Guide, which is set up in interview format, a group of 17 active, experienced sponsors, primarily from New York City and the West Coast, comment on issues such as same-sex sponsorship, the place of friendship in a sponsor/sponsee relationship, gay sponsorship, and qualities of a good sponsor. Each of the 12 steps is discussed, as well as various methods for working them with sponsees. Readers are assured that there are many ways to be an effective sponsor and that no one path to success exists. Included are a suggested reading list and step worksheets. Although the author remains anonymous, she reveals that she is a Los Angeles screenwriter and director.?Catherine T. Charvat, John Marshall Lib., Alexandria, Va.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

M.T. is a Hollywood screenwriter and director with nine years of recovery. She lives in Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (February 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312181825
• ISBN-13: 978-0312181826
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #166,494 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Food for Thought, August 1, 2000

By 

PeacefulNan "PeacefulNan" (East Central GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Sponsorship Guide for 12-Step Programs (Paperback)

This is the first full length book I have ever found on the issue of sponsorhip within 12 step groups. M.T. has assembled several experienced sponsors to share their feelings and experiences about the sponsorship process, working the steps with a sponsee, problems encountered and discoveries made. The book's strength (a wide variety of opinions from a variety of people) is also its greatest weakness (you might be more confused than ever about which path is the right one for you to take with your sponsee). On balance however, I recommend the book as a good way to jump-start your own thinking about these issues. Take what you like and leave the rest.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Helpful Book for Sponsors and Sponsees, November 9, 2004

By 

L. G. Parkhurst "lgpjr" (Edmond, OK United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Sponsorship Guide for 12-Step Programs (Paperback)

More Sponsors will probably read this book than Sponsees, but it does contain valuable information for both. The chapter on Steps 4 and 5 was particularly helpful; however, I do think there is some value in doing your 5th Step with someone you do not know, such as a person in the clergy or other counselor. This book certainly shows the value of the Sponsor walking through ALL the steps with the Sponsee, and doing so beginning with Step 1, instead of starting where the Sponsee wants to start. This book would also be valuable for people leading Serenity Groups, or considering the beginning of such a group. We do have everyone in our own Serenity Groups, who want to be Sponsors, read this book before they take on the challenge. The book not only teaches how to do things, but what to avoid. There is real value in learning from so many people who have contributed to the book. Because this book does include answers from people in various recovery groups, it can be read with profit by anyone in any 12 Step Program. The book concludes with a section on "Writing the Steps" with Step Worksheets. These can be used by the Sponsor with the Sponsee, and could also be made available at meetings (with the publisher's permission). See also the book Prayer Steps to Serenity The Twelve Steps Journey: New Serenity Prayer Edition [Paperback] for both personal and group 12 Step questions and guides that are free to use in groups.

In conclusion, I found two contributors that I liked the best, so I chose to read through the book again just reading what each of these contributors wrote (one contributor at a time), and I found this really helpful to me and my own work.

L.G. Parkhurst, Jr.
Author: Prayer Steps to Serenity The Twelve Steps Journey: New Serenity Prayer Edition [Paperback]

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Helpful, July 12, 2008

By 

Amy "Reader" (Mission Viejo, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Sponsorship Guide for 12-Step Programs (Paperback)

Not so much of a "how to" book. Provided comfort that there is no "right" way of sponsoring. Put my mind at ease about sponsoring.