Sponsorship is one of O.A.’s tools of recovery.
What is a sponsor?
Sponsors are OA members who are living the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions to the best of their ability. They are willing to share their recovery, are committed to abstinence, and are willing to guide another member in working the Twelve Steps.
How do I get a sponsor?
Find a sponsor who has what you want, and ask that person how he or she is achieving it. A member may work with more than one sponsor and may change sponsors at will (adapted from Tools of Recovery).
What should I expect from a sponsor?
We ask a sponsor to help us work the Twelve Steps of OA as a program of recovery on three levels: physical, emotional, and spiritual. Sponsors share their program up to the level of their own experience.
When am I ready to sponsor?
Sponsoring can begin at any time. Simply sponsor up to the level of your experience, sharing as much recovery as you have. It may be helpful to discuss sponsoring with your own sponsor first, then begin sponsoring when you both feel it’s right. Ask your group to introduce you as a new sponsor, or identify yourself as one. We have found that sponsors are most effective when refraining from compulsive eating. Many of us believe clarity of mind comes with abstinence. Having a sponsor is the best way to learn to be a sponsor; we learn by example. We also learn to sponsor by doing it (adapted from A Guide for Sponsors).
