Way Out Group

Types of AA Meetings

12 Steps & 12 Traditions: Texas' AA programs, firmly grounded in the 12 steps and traditions, offer a supportive environment to individuals on their journey to sobriety. With peer and mentor-led meetings held regularly, individuals of all walks of life can find a supportive community.

Big Book: In Texas, the Big Book has a prominent place in AA meetings. Clients are inspired to overcome their alcohol use disorder by reading about the lives of real people who did the same.

Birthday: In AA, birthdays refer to the last day (or the day after) that a member used alcohol or drugs. Birthday anniversaries are celebrated as milestones to encourage sobriety.

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.

Closed: In Texas, closed AA meetings are only available to members of AA or people seeking help for alcohol addiction. General members of the public cannot attend. The discussions are informal and typically focus on one specific aspect of addiction recovery.

Open: In Texas, open AA meetings allow anyone from the community to attend and learn more about how AA operates, what the 12 step recovery model includes, and how they can support a friend or loved one in their alcohol addiction recovery. These meetings are available to alcoholics and nonalcoholics alike.

Speaker: Texas AA centers can encourage their members to resist relapse by inviting speakers. Motivational Speakers are usually AA alumni and use a blend of humor, charm, reason, faith, and emotions to dissuade their listeners from drinking.