What
is the Women for Sobriety Program?
The
WFS Program:
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A
member appreciates my group...
"Thank
you so much for your dedication and desire to help other women with
their sobriety.
Without
you and the group I might not have 7 great years of sobriety!"
Marian
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What
is Women for Sobriety?
Women for Sobriety,
Inc. is the first and only self-help program for women with problems of
addiction. WFS is based on the premise that self-discovery and empowerment
lead to a strong sobriety.
The Program is a guided
journey from self-defeating, negative behavior and attitudes to feelings
of confidence, power and self-worth. By practicing the Program's Thirteen
Statements of Acceptance, women form a secure base of happiness and well-being
that withstands the stress and problems of everyday living.
This Program is based
on positive thinking, metaphysics, meditation, group dynamics and pursuit
of health through nutrition. As a Program, It can stand alone or be used
simultaneously with other programs.
Women for Sobriety
was founded in 1976 by Jean Kirkpatrick, Ph.D. She believed that women
and men had different psychological needs in recovery. Therefore, she
created a self-help Program to meet the specific needs of women. There
are now groups nationwide and abroad.
Unfunded by any agency,
WFS derives its operational money from group donations, sale of literature,
speaking engagements, workshops, and outside donations.
The Women for Sobriety Program
Statements of Acceptance
1. I have a life-threatening
problem that once had me.
I now take charge
of my life. I accept the responsibility.
2. Negative thoughts
destroy only myself.
My first conscious
act must be to remove negativity from my life.
3. Happiness is
a habit I will develop.
Happiness is
created, not waited for.
4. Problems bother
me only to the degree I permit them to.
I now better
understand my problems and do not permit problems to overwhelm me.
5. I am what I
think.
I am a capable,
competent, caring, compassionate woman.
6. Life
can be ordinary or it can be great.
Greatness is
mine by a conscious effort.
7. Love can change
the course of my world.
Caring becomes
all important.
8. The fundamental
object of life is emotional and spiritual growth.
Daily I put my
life into a proper order, knowing which are the priorities.
9. The past is
gone forever.
No longer will
I be victimized by the past, I am a new person.
10. All love given
returns.
I will learn
to know that others love me.
11. Enthusiasm
is my daily exercise.
I treasure all
moments of my new life.
12. I am a competent
woman and have much to give life.
This is what
I am and I shall know it always.
13. I am responsible
for myself and for my actions.
I am in charge
of my mind, my thoughts, and my life.
(c) 1976, 1987, 1993
Women for Sobriety, Inc.
To make the Program
effective for you, arise each morning fifteen minutes earlier than usual
and go over the Thirteen Affirmations. Then begin to think about each
one by itself. Take one Statement and use it consciously all day. At the
end of the day review the use of it and what effects it had that day for
you and your actions.
View a printable version of the 13 Statements
The
Women for Sobriety Program by Levels
Level I - (Statement #1) Acceptance
of alcoholism as a physical disorder
1. I have a life-threatening
problem that once had me.
I now take charge
of my life. I accept the responsibility.
Level II - (Statements #2, #4,
#9) Discarding
negative thoughts, putting guilt behind, and practicing new ways of viewing
and solving problems
2. Negative thoughts
destroy only myself.
My first conscious
act must be to remove negativity from my life.
4. Problems bother
me only to the degree I permit them to.
I now better
understand my problems and do not permit problems to overwhelm me.
9. The past is
gone forever.
No longer will
I be victimized by the past, I am a new person.
Level III - (Statements #5, #12) Creating
and practicing a new self-image
5. I am what I
think.
I am a capable,
competent, caring, compassionate woman.
12. I am a competent
woman and have much to give life.
This is what
I am and I shall know it always.
Level
IV - (Statements #3, #6, #11) Using
new attitudes to enforce new behavior patterns
3. Happiness is
a habit I will develop.
Happiness is
created, not waited for.
6. Life
can be ordinary or it can be great.
Greatness is
mine by a conscious effort.
11. Enthusiasm
is my daily exercise.
I treasure all
moments of my new life.
Level V - (Statements #7, #10)
Improving
relationships as a result of our new feelings about self
7. Love can change
the course of my world.
Caring becomes
all important.
10. All love given
returns.
I will learn
to know that others love me.
Level VI - (Statements #8, #13)
Recognizing
life's priorities: emotional and spiritual growth, self-responsibility
8. The fundamental
object of life is emotional and spiritual growth.
Daily I put my
life into a proper order, knowing which are the priorities.
13. I am responsible
for myself and for my actions.
I am in charge
of my mind, my thoughts, and my life.
(c) 1976, 1987, 1993
Women for Sobriety, Inc.
View a printable version of the Levels
Statement
of Purpose
1. Women for Sobriety is an organization whose purpose is to help all
women recover from problem drinking through the discovery of self, gained
by sharing experiences, hopes and encouragement with other women in similar
circumstances.
2. Women for Sobriety
is unique in that it is an organization of women for women. It recognizes
woman's emerging role and her necessity for self-esteem and self-discovery
to meet today's conflicts.
3. Women for Sobriety
is not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous. Members of Women for Sobriety
sometimes belong to AA. However, each organization has its individual
purpose and should be kept separated.
4. Women for Sobriety believes that drinking began to overcome stress,
loneliness, frustration, emotional deprivation, or any number of other
kinds of harassment. Dependence and addiction resulted. This physiological
addiction can only be overcome by abstinence. Mental and emotional addiction
are overcome with the knowledge of self gained through Women for Sobriety.
5. Women for Sobriety members live by the Women for Sobriety philosophy:
forget the past, plan for tomorrow and live for today.
6. Membership
in Women for Sobriety requires a desire to stop drinking and a sincere
desire for a new life.
About the meetings
Confidentiality
Anything discussed at a WFS meeting is confidential. The identity of members
is not revealed to outsiders. It is up to the discretion of each person
whether she wants to break her own anonymity as a member.
Group Size
The ideal size of a group is from six to ten women, small enough so that
every woman has a chance to be involved in discussions. WFS groups are
like a conversation in the round. Each group, however, determines its
own size. However, you can begin a group with just 2 women.
How the Group is Run
Groups are run by a WFS Certified Moderator. Moderators must have good
sobriety and be thoroughly acquainted with the WFS Program and its philosophy.
Meetings are held at least once a week and do not exceed one hour and
a half. If you are interested in becoming a Certified Moderator, please
contact WFS Headquarters for the proper information to be sent to you.
Group Meeting Format
Meetings are arranged with chairs placed in a circle.
All WFS meetings follow a structured format. The Moderator opens the meeting
and then reads the Thirteen Statements of the WFS "New Life"
Program and the Statement of Purpose.
Each woman is then asked to introduce herself and give herself a stroke
(something positive about herself). "My name is__________and I am
a competent woman. This week I ..."
The discussion part of the meeting comes from a Weekly Topic Guide (supplied
in the Group Starter Kit) and other various WFS literature.
The meeting is closed by joining hands and together reciting the WFS motto:
"We are capable and competent, caring and compassionate, always willing
to help another, bonded together in overcoming our addictions."
Find out where the nearest group is
Click on the following
link and find "Contact Us" WFS
official web site
Find
out how to start your own group
Click on the following
link and find "Moderator Info" WFS
official web site
Join
a WFS on-line support chat group
Click on the following
link and find "WFS Program Online Chat Groups" WFS
official web site
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A
woman receives on-line support...
"I read
the WFS Message Boards daily, just to get encouragement and to realize
I am not alone. I can't tell you how my life has changed in just
a few short days.
I know it is
still an up-hill battle, but I feel so much better, the depression
is lifting, I see everything more clearly now, I feel like I have
been blessed to have been given the tools to save my life from this
devastating disease."
Sarah
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