Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy
Open Access

Research Article

AA Members Understandings of the Higher Power (HP) A Qualitative Study

Addiction Psychology and Counselling, MSc, London South Bank University, London, UK

Corresponding Author:

Yveline Arnaud
Addiction Psychology and Counselling, MSc, 2
Holmdene 32, Holden Road London, Greater London N12 8HU, UK
Tel: +44 776 6 71 3198
E-mail: serenitycoach@tiscali.co.uk; sereneline@googlemail.com

Received date: May 25, 2015; Accepted date: June 16, 2015; Published date: June 23, 2015

Citation: Arnaud Y, Kanyeredzi A, Lawrence J (2015) AA Members Understandings of the Higher Power (HP) A Qualitative Study. J Addict Res Ther 6:233. doi:10.4172/2155-6105.1000233

Copyright: © 2015 Arnaud Y, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Thematic analysis (TA) was used to research how AA members understood the Higher Power (HP). The question of its place in recovery from alcoholism was addressed. The analysis of 10 recorded one-hour interviews led to argue that the Higher Power is not only central to sobriety by also to the well-being of AA members whatever their original or current declared spiritual or religious beliefs may be. Their experiential relationship with it gives a new meaning to their life which goes beyond their sense of identity. The centrality of the HP in AA seems to rub off on its members so that by practicing the program they act more and more like believers in their lives. The main understanding of the HP is Love.