Glossary of Terms: A Guide for Parents
Adolescents in Recovery uses terms that are new for most parents, so we offer a handy glossary. Many of these terms are rooted in Alcoholics Anonymous and established literature regarding recovery.
Graduation — Completion of the AIR process, marked by a special graduation ceremony. Readiness for graduation is determined by a counselor; typical requirements include 18 months of sobriety, completion of the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, establishment of positive family relationships, and identification of an ongoing AA or similar sobriety group to which the young person will transition. Parents who complete the 12 steps with an adult sponsor also graduate in the same ceremony.
Big Book — Alcoholics Anonymous, the primary text of AA and related addiction recovery programs.
AIR keeps a supply of basic AA reading materials and sells them to participants at cost.
Burning Desire — A pressing concern to be brought up after the topic discussion during a 12-step meeting. If time permits, the meeting leader will ask if “anyone has any burning desires.” This is an invitation for anyone who has something they are “burning” to share that was not addressed during the topic discussion.
Climbers — A weekly parent psycho education therapy class (led by Shereé) that helps parents learn to set boundaries, handle conflict, and understand and deal with additive behavior and its effect on the family.
Coffee — An informal gathering after a meeting. This is common custom for support groups. In AIR, both parents and young people are encouraged to go to coffee after Thursday and Saturday meetings to build a stronger support network outside the structured format of the meeting.
Guys Group/Girls Group — A second-stage group therapy session. Most AIR group members not in outpatient therapy participate in this 90-minute session once a week.
Function — An organized group activity for young people, usually hosted at a parent’s home. AIR’s staff & function committee, which includes both parents and young people, organizes functions every Friday and Saturday evening from 7:30 to 11:30. These functions give the young people a supervised, drug- and alcohol-free environment for socializing and fun. Functions can also include bowling, movies, miniature golf or other activities. All parents are encouraged to host functions or to support them by providing refreshments on a rotating basis.
Hangout — An overnight get-together at a parent’s home following a function. Guys’ and girls’ hangouts are separate. Parents hosting hangouts are encouraged to make sure the young people have informed their parents where they are and are encouraged to keep the young people on the premises from the time they arrive until morning, to avoid curfew violations.
Multifamily — A monthly group therapy session that brings together parents and children to discuss common issues or address specific problems. Parents may also bring siblings to multifamily. This meeting usually takes place on the second Monday of the month.
Out of the house — A consequence for significant behavioral problems or relapse. Young people who choose by violating the rules of the house, or “shots,” to lose the privilege of living at home can ask to be taken in by another AIR family. This process has several benefits: it puts the young person in an environment with another child who is farther along in recovery and serves as a role model; it gives the young person a less emotionally charged environment where he/she is expected to comply with rules and boundaries; and it gives the child’s parents a breathing space to work on rebuilding the relationship.
Outpatient — Intensive therapy for young people in first-stage recovery. Outpatient sessions are conducted twice a week for 3 1/2 hours and offer young people a chance to deal with addiction and the underlying issues in a safe, small-group environment.
Reach Out Committee — Both the parent and young people’s groups have some selected individuals designated to make the extra effort to be available for new members, as well as others in some state of need, to listen, answer questions, and interact in other ways.
Satellite — The afternoon recreation facility supported by AIR to offer young people a supportive environment after school and throughout the summer. Young people can play games, work on homework, or work with their sponsors at this facility under the supervision of staff.
Sponsor — An individual who mentors a person through recovery. Both young people and parents in AIR are expected to ask someone (usually someone else in the group) to sponsor them. To be eligible to sponsor someone, a person must have completed the Fifth step in the twelve-step program. The sponsor guides the sponsee through the twelve-step process and provides support when the sponsee needs advice or is going through a crisis.
SO — A final step before completing the outpatient process, in which the young person makes amends to the “significant others” whom have supported her/his recovery.
Service Committee — Both the parent and young people’s groups are led by a service committee that organizes meetings, selects discussion topics, and makes decisions under the guidance of the counselors. The parent’s service committee is headed by the program director; the young people’s service committee is led by a staff member. The service committee meets for a half hour preceding each meeting. Service committee membership rotates and is determined by the AIR/KCS staff.
Winner — Someone who is positive and encourages growth. Someone who keeps others accountable.
Working the Steps — Both parents and young people are expected to read the Alcoholics Anonymous textbook and find a sponsor to guide them through the 12-step process. This process includes readings, written exercises and one-on-one discussion with a sponsor for each of the 12 steps.