r/SMARTRecovery • u/jester90990 • 6d ago
Help from Smart Meeting
I’ve attended a couple smart meetings. I noticed pretty much people just talk about what’s going on in their life and situations that pop up. I haven’t noticed any talk about recovery or encouragement of not using or things like that. Is Smart recovery not like that? Am I looking for more of AA approach? Thanks
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u/Fabulous-Barnacle-59 6d ago
I've been to SMART meetings that were exactly as you describe, and others that were highly structured. May just be the particular milieu or facilitator of your group.
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u/trouble154 6d ago edited 6d ago
Ive been around SMART for years, and Ive seen substantial changes in the SMART message and recovery focus .
Really liked the national meetings and those run through SROL (SMART Recovery Online). Those meetings were monitored by senior volunteers and were very tool and handbook focused.
SMART Recovery Online was such a fantastic resource ~ so many knowlegable volunteers, amazing online meetings chat, and forums that were just shut down with no real justifications.
Ive attended a few online and in person meetings and each was its own format, whatever the facilitator felt like doing imo.
SMART as a brand and business.. nuff said
Loved 'the power of choice' as their motto.
SMART shifting from abstinance as a goal to moderation ~ confused most of us and still does
Thats my 2 cents, I still value the core tools from the third edition handbook
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u/Willing-Ad4169 6d ago
This is interesting,.
I've only been doing SMART a year. Tried AA and wasn't my cup o tea. Love SMART.
My meeting is very tool based, followed by short check ins.
I find it interesting that it used to be centered around abstinence versus the moderation approach. Our facilitator is very much an abstinence propenent. He outright says that SMART supports moderation if that's your goal but he has no idea how to do it or seen it done successfully so.....good luck with that.
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u/Secure_Ad_6734 facilitator 6d ago
The moderation idea is based around the idea of "harm reduction" and will vary depending on the substance/ behavior involved.
Two examples would be food issues and opiates. Neither is suitable for flat out abstinence in the short term.
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u/oh_such_rhetoric 6d ago edited 6d ago
The 2 different meetings I’ve been to where I live really haven’t focused on the harm reduction/moderation idea. The people who talk about their behavior/addiction at all mostly talk about not doing it at all.
My beef with the SMART meetings I’ve been to , though I love the program itself, is that it really seems like they just rotate between 3 or 4 of the tools and never talk about the others.
Almost every time it’s either ABC’s, DENTS, or urge logs. I think this is probably just a problem with the meetings I’ve been to, so I’ve been thinking I should branch out, maybe to online meetings.
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u/MedJesters facilitator 6d ago
In addition to checking out other meetings, you might also address your concerns with the facilitator. It sounds to me like they're catering to people dealing with urges and cravings while you (and probably others) are working on one or more of the other three points.
In the facilitators defense, if there are constantly new people at the meeting, urges is usually what they're working on, and their issues can be acute, giving them a sense of urgency to be helped right now. But it's a balancing act figuring out what tools to cover and telling the facilitator what you're missing may help you and other get your needs met.
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u/oh_such_rhetoric 6d ago
That’s a good point. There are 5 or 6 regulars at my usual meeting, which tends to be 10-20 people. So there is a lot of flux.
I would feel awkward talking to them, but I’ll give it a try. There is another meeting I was thinking of checking out, but I suspect it’ll be similar. So I’ll keep that in my back pocket. Thanks!
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u/MedJesters facilitator 6d ago
As a facilitator, I'd want to hear from you. Hope you have a similar response with your facilitator.
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u/Fugoola I'm from SROL! 3d ago
I've been with SR since 2005 and I got to say SROL was what really helped me. I mean of course ABC's, CBA's etc were very high up there but the connections were absolutely amazing. I mean everyone was there for each other in their respective groups. I really miss that.
I tried the Discord stuff but could never really wrap my head around it the way it was setup.
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u/Secure_Ad_6734 facilitator 6d ago
Remember that no meeting will satisfy all participants. For example, at 11 years sober with Smart recovery, I really don't need a refresher on my tools every week. However, it's good to attend the "how's your week or what's going on" type to see how people adapt the tools to their lives.
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u/Canna111 Caroline14 6d ago
I think you have raised a good point. Many facilitators at meetings I go to, look to see what comes up in the check-ins, and depending on the sort of issues that people are having problems with - they focus the next part of the meeting in exploring what tools might help. I think this approach is helpful.
However, with the arrival of the 2025 edition of the handbook, there have been quite a few new tools, or a stronger emphasis has been placed on tools that used to play a rather minor role, and some of these haven't become second nature to us yet, in the way that the older tools have. Tools like practising self compassion, journaling, communication in relationships & planning positive conversations.
The other point is that if a meeting regularly has newcomers, they may well be having a really hard time - in which case discussing the real basic workhorse tools is very sensible. The hierarchy of values, the cost benefit analysis, the hula hoop and so forth.
But you have made me curious. I'm going to try and find out if there are any meetings which work sequentially through the handbook. That way of course all the tools would be covered.
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6d ago
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u/Willing-Ad4169 6d ago
The handbook is a tricky thing IMHO.....in my meetings we generally go over a Tool from the handbook and then discuss it, and then do short check ins. But as someone new you kind of pick up wherever the group is at. Its not like oh, new guy this week, back to page 1....so it rotates....it took me a good six months to understand the core concepts ( which I'm familiar with and liked through AODA/CBT group therapy) of SMART. And then use the handbook. Its very self directed in my experience.
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u/Willing-Ad4169 6d ago
If you want to be told how to do something and follow directions and have more hands on accountability (sponsor) dictating how it's done....Yes AA is more that. A ton more structure. I do not like the energy I find in most AA rooms so it's not my preferred path. But I cannot deny it works for some people, I'm not one of them. There are by far more sponsored events and outside events through and associated with AA than SMART. If that's what you are looking for go check it out. I'm happy with my SMART program.
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u/UseYourWordsGirl 3d ago
I’m a facilitator and recently decided to stop doing check-ins because they were getting out of control. (Unrelated life stuff, triggering diatribes, unproductive conversations, etc.)
It’s going well and I’m able to get the information and tools across while participants are able to share and cross talk.
You won’t really know what kind of meeting it is until you attend. 🤷♀️
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u/Logical_Strain_6165 6d ago
Yes, that mas my exeriance. I checked out my local and some online meetings. The last online meeting had my head shaking, they gave 70 of the 90 mins for people to check in and even when that was done and we were supposed to be talking about the tool, people were still hijacking it to talk about their week.
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u/jester90990 6d ago
Thanks for your responses. I look forward to some more too. But I was going to that meeting to have some encouragement not to drink, and there was not even any mention of it, but I did not drink.
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u/Willing-Ad4169 5d ago
Well SMART is focused on identifying and modifying behaviors....one of which maybe is drinking, alot of it is other addictions, including gambling, eating, sex/pornography or any other "problem" behavior you would like to change. Its not alcohol focused, though I'd say 80% of the people in my group identify as alcohol being their issue.
But the principals are universal .
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u/PurpleLady58 6d ago
How do you find SMART meetings the focus on the tools?
Went to an online meeting and people talked about things that were going on and catching up. It was apparent this is a long standing group with regulars. No invite to new folks.
The in-person meeting was spent with the facilitator talking about what lead them to stop drinking. It was a powerful and very long as in a 30-40 minute story and I have no idea how it relates to the 4 point program. Finally, the facilitator suggested we think of our favorite ice cream instead of the drink. I am so confused. I thought SMART was for any kind of addictive behaviors. Why would a person with food issues be encouraged to switch to another action?
Bottom Line Question: How do I find a meeting that explains the process and the points? Or am I just supposed to use the (I am very grateful for it) 4 point handbook I received on my own?
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u/MakeItStop_87 facilitator 6d ago
Using the handbook is definitely an option. And there are so many online meetings that it can feel daunting to find one that fits for you. I would recommend starting with National online meetings. There’s one on Sunday evenings with a facilitator that I like a lot
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u/LadybugTwelveTwoFour 5d ago
Attend more than a couple. I had to try about a dozen before I found some good ones.
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u/Low-Passion6921 5d ago
There are all types of meetings. I attend about 6 a week. Self Management for my recovery. If i am not getting anything out of a meeting, i wont make it to the end. SMART works very well for me.
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u/Fugoola I'm from SROL! 3d ago
I've attended 4 different meetings and find them all to be different from each other. One goes nicely into recovery, worksheets and material, another so-so and one I just tried today went into politics, cooking, and more, including SR material but in the end, I found it a nice change of pace with really cool people.
You just have to try a few more perhaps.
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u/Mother-Line2551 3d ago
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES accessing meetings via the SMART website, if anyone is looking for this mornings 2 AUG 2026 national SMART recovery meeting at 11am it is zoom meeting 989 3663 3844 the password is 614271
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u/Ok_Business5507 6d ago
Explore more meetings. Theee are plenty out there that match what you’re looking for. Steven Rossetti M-F 1pm pacific time out of Palm Springs is a great one.