Connections - A Guide to Using Support in ACA Recovery
8 chapters on how to find support in ACA.
Introducing the Connections Book: A Deeper Look at Support in Recovery
What does real support look like in ACA?
How do we navigate the difference between a fellow traveler and a sponsor?
And how do we build relationships that are grounded in trust, clarity, and healthy boundaries?
The Connections book was created in response to a delegate motion asking for clarity around these questions – starting with the difference between a fellow traveler and a sponsor, a distinction not clearly defined in the Big Red Book.
But what began as a simple clarification evolved into something much more meaningful.
Inside Connections, you'll find a thoughtful, wide-ranging exploration of support in ACA:
- The roles of both the seeker and the supporter
- Common challenges and misunderstandings in support relationships
- Practical insights for building stronger connections in recover
Whether you're new to ACA or have been in the program for years, Connections offers valuable guidance for anyone seeking – or offering – support on the journey to healing.
Fellowship Review
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"In almost six years of ACA, I have never had a sponsor, nor been a sponsor. I have done my deepest recovery work as part of small, intensive workgroups. It is mostly through these groups that I have met my closest recovery partners (what some might call co-sponsors) who I meet up with or speak to by phone at least weekly. I had ... therapists in the past. They were helpful, but the fact that my sponsor was willing to spend time week after week with me from the generosity of his heart helped me realize that I was worth it. He was a mirror for my own worth when I could not see it. Love was very transactional in my family. My sponsor loves me without wanting something back from me.
My main take away is that sponsors don't work well. There is just too much temptation to control others. I know I'm extremely sensitive to any work or reaction that is controlling. I have had it happen all my life. Several members in the region that I know had that issue with a sponsor. I like the fellow traveler model. With mine, this was the first relationship where I felt I was equal.” —Fellow Traveler
"When the Yellow ACA Steps Workbook came out, I and a fellow ACA member decided to take our steps together. We both had roughly the same amount of time in the fellowship. We called each other co-sponsors or fellow travelers ... We gave feedback only when asked to do so. Mainly, we practiced active listening to each other's responses." -Fellow Traveler