One of the most vital aspects of our program is sponsorship. A sponsor is a person in the fellowship who acts as a guide to working the program of SAA, a fellow addict that you can rely upon for support. Ideally, a sponsor is abstinent from addictive sexual behavior, has worked the steps, and can teach you what he or she has learned from working the program. We can learn from a sponsor’s experience, struggles, successes and mistakes. Our sponsor can help explain program fundamentals, such as how to define your sexual sobriety. Most importantly, sponsors guide us through the twelve steps.
See “Finding Sponsors / Being a Sponsor” for communicating with Charlotte SAA regarding being a sponsor or finding one.
The sponsor-sponsee relationship is a fundamental concept of the program. It benefits not only the new sponsee but also the sponsor. The only caveat is that in order for the relationship to be beneficial to either party, they both must be committed to speaking truthfully and being painfully honest about all issues. Further recommended reading on the subject can be found in the following:
Recommended Reading
For Anyone
- Sex Addicts Anonymous (“The Green Book”)
- Alcoholics Anonymous (“The AA Big Book”)
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
- Voices of Recovery (See “Sponsorship” in the appendix”)
- The Soul of Sponsorship
For Sponsors
- Twelve Step Sponsorship – How It Works by Hamilton B
- Step One Guide for Sponsors (SAA pamphlet)
- Step Two Guide for Sponsors (SAA pamphlet)
For Sponsees (or anyone looking for a sponsor)
- Getting a Sponsor (SAA pamphlet)