Welcome to the first article in our new series on doing step work in CoDA. Over the coming months, we'll be exploring the various methods of working the Twelve Steps in depth, with personal stories and insights from members. But before we dive into the specifics, it's important to understand why step work is so essential to our recovery journey.
Why Step Work Matters
Step work is the heart and soul of our recovery in CoDA. While attending meetings provides us with community and support, it's through the deliberate, conscious work of the Twelve Steps that we experience profound transformation. Step work allows us to:
- Identify and heal the wounds that led us to codependency
- Build a relationship with a Higher Power of our own understanding
- Develop new, healthy ways of relating to ourselves and others
- Release the patterns of thinking and behaving that no longer serve us
- Build a solid foundation for lasting recovery
The Steps are not just something we read about, they're something we live. Many long-time members say that meetings kept them stable, but the steps changed their lives.
Methods of Step Work in CoDA
CoDA offers several ways to work the Twelve Steps. Each approach has strengths, and different methods work for different people at different times. CoDA encourages members to choose a method that feels both safe and grounded in program principles.
Sponsorship
A sponsor is another CoDA member who has already worked the steps and can guide someone through them.
Sponsors offer structure, accountability, and support. The relationship is built on trust, confidentiality, and mutual respect. Sponsorship is often considered the most traditional and robust way to work the steps.
Co-sponsorship
In co-sponsorship, two members support each other as equals. Both participants are active in their recovery, share responsibility for the process, and help each other reflect, stay honest, and stay connected to the program.
Step Study Groups (aka Power of 5)
A step work group is a small, structured group, of up to five people, who meet regularly to work through the steps together often following the 30 and then 40 question formats.
Members share equally, reflect together, and support one another’s recovery while maintaining CoDA traditions and principles. The small size helps create a safe and intimate environment.
Facilitated Step & Tradition Groups
These are groups formed specifically for the purpose of working the steps, often following the Blue Book, Green Workbook, or agreed-upon format. They may be time-limited and are guided by an experienced member. They provide community, consistency, and collective wisdom.
Working Alone
Some members start their step journey on their own using literature or workbooks. While this can be a beginning, it often lacks the perspective, accountability, and emotional safety that come from working with others. CoDA suggests pairing individual work with sponsorship or community support whenever possible.
While personal reflection is valuable, working alone often lacks the accountability, support, and shared wisdom that make step work transformative in CoDA.
The Importance of a Trusted Environment
The Twelve Steps invite vulnerability, honesty, and self-examination. Because of this, safety is essential. CoDA encourages members to work the steps:
- With trusted individuals
- In groups grounded in CoDA principles
- Within a framework that protects confidentiality
- With adherence to the Twelve Traditions
A trusted environment allows members to share openly without fear of judgment, advice-giving, or gossip. It creates the conditions for real healing.
The Dangers of Working Outside CoDA
While it's natural to seek support from various sources, there are significant risks to doing step work in groups outside of CoDA:
· Lack of Understanding - Non-CoDA groups may not understand the specific dynamics of codependency, leading to misguided advice or interpretations.
· Boundary Issues - Groups outside our fellowship may encourage enmeshment or codependent patterns rather than healthy recovery.
· Spiritual Bypassing - Some approaches may use spiritual concepts to avoid addressing the painful emotional work that step work requires.
· Safety Concerns - Without the protective framework of our Traditions, sharing deeply personal material could lead to exploitation or harm.
Incomplete Recovery - Different programs address different issues, working step work outside CoDA may not address the core wounds of codependency.
Looking Ahead
This article has only scratched the surface of the rich tapestry of step work methods available in CoDA. In our next instalments, we'll be taking a deep dive into each method, with personal stories, practical tips, and the experience, strength, and hope of members who have walked these paths before.
Step work is a personal journey, but we never have to take it alone. However you choose to proceed, CoDA offers fellowship, support, and a spiritual program that can change lives, one step at a time.
In service and recovery, The CoDAUK Sponsorship Team
CoDA Sponsorship and Step Work is Always Free
Click HERE for more from the Healthy Meeting task Force.
For additional information about CoDA sponsorship click HERE.
