Secular Organizations for Sobriety Group of Toronto
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Please Note: CFI will be closed to non participants during this time.
Secular Organizations for Sobriety Group of Toronto (SOSGT) is:
1. Secular: SOSGT credits the individual for achieving and
maintaining his or her own sobriety and is ideal for those
uncomfortable with the spiritual content of 12-step programs.
The group is secular and religiously neutral.
2. Sobriety focused: Sobriety, defined as the priority of abstaining
from alcohol and other mind-altering drugs, is the number-one
priority. A recovering alcoholic must abstain from all drugs or
alcohol. SOSGT is focused on the “Sobriety priority”, maintaining
that sobriety is a separate issue from all else.
3. Inquiry-minded: SOSGT is free from dogma or the towing of
any party line. SOSGT is not in competition with other groups and
respects recovery in any form, regardless of the path by which it is
achieved. SOSGT supports healthy skepticism and encourages the
use of the scientific method to understand alcoholism.
4. All-welcoming: All those who sincerely seek sobriety are
welcome as members of SOSGT.
5. Support-group based: Although sobriety is an individual
responsibility, life does not have to be faced alone. The support of
other alcoholics and addicts is vital to recovery. In SOSGT, members
share experiences, insights, information, strength and
encouragement in friendly, honest, anonymous and
supportive group meetings
6. Autonomous: SOSGT has no hidden agenda and is concerned
with achieving and maintaining sobriety. SOSGT has no opinion on
outside matters and does not wish to become entangled in outside
controversy.
7. Communications-based: Honest, clear, and direct
communication of feelings, thoughts, and knowledge aids in
recovery and in choosing nondestructive, nondelusional, and
rational approaches to living sober and rewarding lives.
8. Voluntary-based: SOSGT is run by a democratically elected
steering committee of volunteers and all members are welcome to
take part in its governance and direction.
9. Confidential: As knowledge of addiction might cause a person
harm or embarrassment in the outside world, SOS guards the
anonymity of its membership and the contents of its discussions
from those not within the group
10. Effective: SOSGT is effective because it encourages the
scientific study of all aspects of alcoholism and addiction, rather
than limiting its outlook to one area of knowledge or theory of
alcoholism and addiction.
Group and Meeting Structure
SOSGT is a nonprofit, autonomous, nonprofessional self-help group.
The typical meeting is held weekly for 1.5 hours, with a 10-15 minute break in
the middle. Family or friends requiring support, and those with other addiction
problems (ex: gambling, drug addiction, etc) are welcome
The typical meeting agenda is as follows:
1) Welcome and introductions from meeting leader
2) Announcements and policies
3) Anniversaries
4) Reading from the SOS guidebooks
5) Introductions from newcomers
6) Readings from literature on freethought, critical
thinking and rational inquiry
7) Open discussion, often topical
8) Closing