Attending support groups is an essential part of recovery. The purpose of AA group meetings is to provide a place where people in all stages of recovery can come together, share in their triumphs and their failures, learn from one another, and move through a set of progressive goals in a collective fashion.
Traditionally these meetings took place in a face-to-face format but during the pandemic, changes forced virtual meetings to arise. Today many people continue to support that format and in fact prefer them.
Virtual AA Meetings vs. In-Person Meetings: How They Compare
So, how do these two options compare?
- Location: AA offers a wide range of meetings on a regular basis and those who are in recovery can search for meetings near their location using an online tool or calling a local affiliate but there can still be restrictions especially for rural areas while virtual meetings can take place from any location making them simple to access.
- Requirements: In person meetings have transportation requirements to get to and from the location and this can be more challenging for people in rural settings but virtual AA meetings require access to technology, a device that can stream video content with audio functions, and access to high-speed internet.
- Support: Both in-person and virtual AA meeting should provide the same level of support but facilitating or moderating virtual meetings comes with a basic requirement of how technology works and becoming familiar with functions like unmuting yourself or clicking a button to raise your hand when you want to share something compared to in-person meetings which don’t have those requirements.
- Socialization: With in-person meetings, there is often a chance to linger before or after the meeting making it easier to go up and talk to someone with whom you may have identified or to ask someone to be a sponsor while virtual meetings don’t have the socialization elements making it a little bit more difficult to connect to others.
In terms of what they offer, these meetings are exactly the same. The structure is the same, the 12 steps that are moved through for each individual are the same and the options for additional support and connection are the same.
Virtual AA Meetings vs. In-Person Meetings: Is One Better Than the Other?
During COVID-19, studies followed the efficacy of virtual AA meetings to see if they were effective and, if so, how effective.
Convenience
One study found that while people may have been hesitant to switch to virtual AA meetings at the start, once they tried them, they found that virtual meetings offered a lot of convenience. Without the need for rented spaces, virtual meetings could happen with more frequency, making them more widely available.
Some people enjoyed them so much that even after COVID-19 when face-to-face meetings were reinstated, they continued with virtual AA meetings.
Highlight: The virtual AA meetings proved highly effective for those in rural areas or without adequate transportation.
Pros:
- Convenience
- Easy access anywhere
A recent survey found that face-to-face sessions were perceived as more effective by some, offering better quality support but not more accessible. The conclusion was that virtual groups served as a valuable supplement, especially when individuals were unable to attend in-person meetings. A larger survey concluded that during COVID-19, participants who attended a virtual and an in-person group found them to be equally effective, with 64.9 percent indicating that virtual meetings were at least as effective in promoting their sobriety as in-person meetings.
Technology
However, the positives of virtual meetings can be outweighed by technological issues, particularly when services are not offered or received in areas with adequate high-speed internet. This made the video quality poor and presented challenges following the group or participating in the group.
Problem: People were also more likely to get distracted when they had virtual meetings.
Cons:
- Connectivity issues
- Distractions
Some surveys indicated that while virtual meetings were an effective way to communicate and stay on point, face-to-face meetings are perceived as more productive facilitating health goals of the group.
Overall, finding the right format for your meetings is important to your overall health. At Sequoia Recovery, we incorporate AA meetings as part of all levels of care, helping you access in person and virtual meetings so that you can decide which ones you prefer and make time for both as you progress in your recovery.Reach out to us today for more information on our support group meetings, inpatient, and outpatient care.
FAQs
Do I need software to join AA meetings online?
AA uses Zoom for their virtual meetings. These require a link and in many cases, if you have the zoom software downloaded on your phone or your computer you can join directly from there but there are always options when you launch each meeting to open it in your browser without requiring the download. If there are any passwords or other special information these will typically be provided to you before the meeting starts.
How long are virtual AA meetings?
The online meetings last around 60 minutes. Some meetings might be shorter or longer, depending on the type. If, for example, a keynote speaker is sharing their story, that special session might run a little bit longer, but facilitators work hard to ensure meetings do not go over 60 minutes.
Do I need special equipment to join an online AA meeting?
No. When you join a Zoom meeting you can join through your phone by simply calling in a number and entering the code for the meeting. This allows you to use the mute function and the speaker function on your phone for better comfort and communication.
If you want to join with audio and video you will need to join from a browser with an internet connection or from within the zoom software. This can be done with a smartphone, tablet, or computer. The device you use will work with whatever speakers you already have for the audio, and use the microphone embedded in the device.
To block out any unnecessary noise in your environment, give you more privacy, and help you communicate more clearly you can always use a set of headphones with a microphone or earbuds with a microphone.
How do I find virtual AA meetings?
The AA websites around the world have a “Find Meetings” page where you can search for meetings in your area. When you visit these pages you can refine the search results to only include virtual or online meetings.
Can I still chat with members?
AA is there to help you feel like a group, and many groups offer chat to the group while you are in the virtual sessions. There are also options to communicate with group members, especially facilitators via email. Each facilitator is different and how they manage this but open communication where approved by one another in a digital format is a great way to compensate for the lack of socialization associated with virtual meetings.
Even if there isn’t a clear way to communicate with someone in a group and you don’t want to send a private message during the zoom session to another participant, you can always reach out to your facilitator and ask them for contact information for a person you might want as a sponsor or someone you might want to talk to for a little extra help and your facilitator can check with them personally before passing along any approved information.
How many times a week should you go to AA meetings?
This is entirely up to your personal preference and what you need. Most people attend meetings at least once per week as they feel this is enough to help them stay in contact with their local group and meet their personal needs. If you are new and your sobriety and you just finished another level of care, you might need more support, in which case you can go every day or multiple times per day, especially if you are combining virtual and in-person meetings.
