All recovery meeting format
All Recovery Meeting Format
This meeting is open to all who have experienced addiction, are affected by addiction, or support the recovery lifestyle. We meet every (day of the week) at (time). Please take a moment to turn your phone on to vibrate or silent.
YPR chapters engage people in or seeking recovery and their allies across the country to take a stand for recovery. If you have any questions about YPR or the ________ Chapter, please see a chapter member after the meeting. (Ask chapter members to raise their hands).
We’ll pause for a moment to allow everyone to check in to this meeting. Please get out your phones and text (CHAPTER SPECIFIC ARM KEYWORD) to 574-475-3117. This will allow you to stay connected to YPR events and start tracking your recovery capital, giving you an overall picture of your progress in various areas of life. Please see me after the meeting for more information about the Recovery Capital Index.
As the name suggests, this All-Recovery Meeting embraces and supports all recovery pathways, recognizing that each person’s journey is unique. We are not affiliated with any specific recovery program; instead, we aim to complement and enhance your current recovery efforts. Recovery may not look the same for everyone—what works for one person might not work for another, and that’s okay. We ask that everyone respects each other’s paths and understands that there’s no single “right” way to recover. We’re here to support all people on their journey. We ask that everyone respects each other’s paths and stories. When we share in this meeting, it is from our own personal experiences, which may bring hope, inspiration, or guidance to others! It’s okay if everything shared in this meeting doesn’t resonate with you, but we encourage you to listen for similarities rather than differences! Additionally, you don’t have to be young to join us—all are welcome!
This is a safe space to discuss personal experiences. If you feel unsafe at any time, please speak to the facilitator or any chapter member. We ask all participants to keep what they hear in this meeting private to protect everyone who attends.
Let’s begin with a moment of silence to remember why we’re here.
(Pause for a moment of silence)
Thank you.
We will go around for each person to introduce themselves. How you choose to introduce yourself is completely up to you. (Introduce yourself first. Example: My name is ____, and I’m a person in long-term recovery).
Before we move into open sharing, let’s introduce this week’s topic. (Introduce the selected topic for the week, providing a brief explanation or context to set the stage for the discussion). This topic is intended to guide our conversations today, though you are welcome to share any aspect of your recovery journey that feels relevant.
Please feel free to share anything that you feel will enhance your recovery or the recovery of others. If the group is large, we ask you to keep your shares for around 5 minutes or less. The floor is now open.
In closing, I would like to thank everyone who attended today. We encourage you to connect with each other after the meeting and maybe make a new friend—Help spread the word about YPR and invite anyone you think may benefit from this meeting! Finally, when we help others, we help ourselves: talk to me or the chapter leader if you’d like to get more involved as a volunteer!
We will close this meeting with a positive affirmation about ourselves. (Go around the circle so each person can share their positive affirmation).
All Recovery Meeting Format Ideas
All Recovery Meetings (ARM) can be conducted in various formats to keep participants engaged and foster meaningful discussions. Here are some ideas for different ARM formats:
Focus on specific topics such as powerlessness, forgiveness, or mental health. Use guided questions to facilitate conversation.
Invite guest speakers to share their recovery stories or expertise on relevant topics.
Incorporate activities like meditation, art therapy, writing prompts, or group exercises to engage participants in different ways.
A popcorn style meeting refers to a format where participants speak spontaneously rather than following a pre-assigned order. Individuals “popcorn” into the conversation whenever they feel ready to contribute, similar to popcorn kernels popping at random. This approach encourages free-flowing dialogue and active participation, allowing people to share ideas as they emerge.
After someone shares, they “tag” the next person to speak, promoting inclusivity and participation. This practice encourages inclusivity and participation by ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute. It helps break down any hesitations participants might have about speaking up, while also fostering a more engaged and interactive meeting environment.
Celebrate recovery milestones and anniversaries. Allow the celebrant to choose the format and chair the meeting. Begin with introductions, where those who know the celebrant say a few words, making the meeting special and personal. Family members, friends, and even professionals like Drug Court Judges can be invited to speak, creating a supportive and inclusive environment.