New Start Meeting

Types of AA Meetings

Big Book: AA programs in Tennessee often inspire participants with stories in the Big Book. Clients discuss the lives of real people who successfully managed their alcohol use disorder and how they can do the same.

Child-Friendly: Child-friendly AA meetings allow each member to bring up to one child to the meeting, with the expectation that the discussion will not feature experiences or language that are inappropriate for the child. Formal childcare may not be available, but the member can watch over her child while participating in the discussion.

Discussion: In Tennessee, AA discussion meetings center around a particular topic that relates to alcohol addiction and recovery. Group leaders will open the meeting by sharing their personal thoughts and experiences that relate to the topic, then allow other members to share. Topics typically come from AA texts, including the Big Book.

Open: In Tennessee, open AA meetings are accessible to anyone from the public, including alcoholics and nonalcoholics. During the meeting, members can share their stories and provide information about the organization, while observers can listen and learn.

Women: Tennessee women’s AA meetings are community support meetings for women who are impacted by alcohol addiction - those who are suffering from alcoholism and those who have loved ones who are addicted to alcohol. Free for women of all ages to attend, these meetings offer peer support along with a 12-step recovery program.