An Introduction to Recovery, Inc. Group Meetings
The self-help techniques used by Recovery members were developed by the late Abraham A. Low, M.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois Medical School. These techniques are explained in Dr. Low's book, Mental Health Through Will Training. Recovery does not offer diagnosis, treatment, or counseling. Members are expected to follow the advice of our own physician or other professional.
Organization of Weekly Group Meetings
In weekly group meetings lasting about two hours, members help each other by giving examples of how they practice the Recovery method to face and handle specific difficulties. The meetings are conducted by veteran members who receive leadership training. Each meeting consists of:
- Reading from or listening to one of Dr. Low's authoritative works.
- Example period, during which group members describe events of everyday life that resulted in an inner response of discomfort. They explain how they used Recovery techniques to handle their discomfort and control their responses. After each example, other members offer comments (referred to as "spotting") that point out successful practice of the Recovery method as well as bring up other Recovery techniques that also could have been used.
- Free-will offering, during which voluntary contributions are collected that help Recovery maintain its self-supporting status. If you cannot donate at this time, do not let that deter you from attending Recovery meetings.
- Further spotting and question period, during which members offer additional comments and ask questions concerning the examples presented in the meeting.
- Mutual aid period, during which members ask questions and discuss on a more informal basis how they are using the Recovery method.
Newcomer Participation
Any fear or discomfort that you have about attending your first Recovery
meeting is average. We recognize the courage it took to come to this first
meeting. You are not expected to participate in the example period until
subsequent meetings, after you have read a portion of Dr. Low's book,
Mental Health Through Will Training. 
Even
then, participation is voluntary. When you are ready to offer a comment
on an example or to give an example, the leader will help you.
During your first Recovery meeting you are invited, if you wish, to take a turn reading from the selection of Dr. Low's writings being read aloud by group members. During the further spotting and question period, the mutual aid period, and after the meeting, please feel free to ask questions about Recovery and what you've heard during the meeting.
The Vocabulary of Recovery
Dr. Low believed that language has an important impact on our thoughts and feelings. Thus language is a key aspect of the Recovery method. The uniformity of language allows us to attend any Recovery group and easily communicate our experiences and symptoms. During your initial Recovery meetings you are likely to hear some unfamiliar terms. However, if you attend meetings for a few weeks, the meanings of these terms will become evident as you observe the Recovery process. Feel free to ask for an explanation of terms from the group leader or group members during meetings. Reading of Dr. Low's writings will also give you a more in depth understanding of the phrases being used during meetings.
An Invitation
Recovery has lasted since 1937 because it works! Some members attend for years because they choose to give back what they have gained through Recovery. We encourage you to come back for at least six to eight meetings and to start using Recovery's coping techniques before making a decision about Recovery's suitability for the problems you are experiencing. We can't change our past, but by practicing the Recovery method we are influencing our future.
