What we’re about
Welcome to the Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families (ACA) 12 step program. ACA is a Twelve Step, Twelve Tradition support group focused on understanding the specific behavior and attitude patterns we developed while growing up in an alcoholic or other dysfunctional environment. These patterns continue to affect us today. By attending regular meetings we come to a better understanding of our past so we can more effectively restructure our lives today. We begin to see more clearly what is positive and healthy in ourselves.
What is ACA?
ACA is a 12 Step program that focuses on emotional sobriety.
We were all profoundly affected by the dysfunction in our families of origin, whether alcohol was present in the home or not. Consequently, we developed a set of specific behaviour and attitude patterns (“laundry list” traits) that helped us survive that experience. These traits may have been adaptive at the time, but have now come to substantially disrupt our lives and continue to affect us today.
We recover by “working our program.” This means attending ACA meetings and working the Twelve Steps. The Steps are not meant to be worked in isolation, which is why we work with more experienced members, a twelve step group, and/or our fellow travellers (others in ACA). By attending regular meetings we come to a better understanding of our past so we can more effectively restructure our lives today. We begin to see more clearly what is positive and healthy in ourselves.
ACA is a spiritual program, not a religious program. The only requirement for membership is a desire to recover from the effects of growing up in an alcoholic or otherwise dysfunctional family. ACA has no membership fees.
Since each meeting is autonomous, and each meeting can be a different experience, we recommend that if your first meeting is not a fit for you, try other meetings before deciding if the ACA program can be helpful in your journey from discovery to recovery.
Meetings are intended to be a safe place. We share our experience, strength, hope and fear without judgement or criticism; we offer compassion, friendship and understanding. We also have the right not to share, unless we are ready. We welcome you to join us.
ACA provides a safe, nonjudgmental environment that allows us to grieve our childhoods and conduct an honest inventory of ourselves and our family—so we may (i) identify and heal core trauma, (ii) experience freedom from shame and abandonment, and (iii) become our own loving parents.
Please note that ACA is not a replacement for addicts working an abstinence program in other Twelve Step fellowships. Adult Children of Alcoholics works best for people that have obtained a level of sobriety in their other program(s).
ACA website: