Sponsorship in Al-Anon Family Groups

207 Pages·2017·1.27 MB·English

Antioch University
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Dissertations & Theses
2017
Sponsorship in Al-Anon Family Groups: A
Narrative Study
Heidi S. Hiatt
Antioch University - PhD Program in Leadership and Change
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Hiatt, Heidi S., "Sponsorship in Al-Anon Family Groups: A Narrative Study" (2017).Dissertations & Theses. 375.
http://aura.antioch.edu/etds/375
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SPONSORSHIP IN AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS: A NARRATIVE STUDY

HEIDI HIATT

A DISSERTATION

Submitted to the Ph.D. in Leadership and Change Program
of Antioch University
in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy

July, 2017
This is to certify that the Dissertation entitled:
SPONSORSHIP IN AL-ANON: A NARRATIVE STUDY
prepared by
Heidi Hiatt

is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in
Leadership and Change.

Approved by:

___________________________________________________________________________
Elizabeth Holloway, Ph.D., Chair date

___________________________________________________________________________
Laurien Alexandre, Ph.D., Committee Member date

___________________________________________________________________________
Mary Lee Nelson, Ph.D., Committee Member date
Copyright 2017 Heidi Hiatt
All rights reserved
Acknowledgements
There are so many people I would like to acknowledge for supporting me on this journey.
Deep appreciation and gratitude to:
My dissertation chair, Dr. Elizabeth Holloway, who showed great patience, kindness,
understanding, and guidance throughout this process;
My advisor, Dr. Laurien Alexandre, who lovingly lit a fire under me when I needed it.
Committee member, Dr. Mary Lee Nelson, who offered time, energy, and encouraging words.
Jennifer Hunter who celebrated and commiserated with me every step of the way;
All of the faculty, C12 cohort, students, and staff of the PHDLC family who inspired me.
What a wonderful, loving, fun, diligent, change making, creative, and intelligent group of people.
My editor, Alexia Currie for diligently editing my work and saying kind things about it;
Valerie and Barbara who transcribed the interviews beautifully;
The Al-Anon members who graciously shared their stories for this study;
My family and friends who asked about my work, encouraged me, and loved me through
it all.
Gayle and Leslie who read my drafts and gave me helpful, honest feedback. You are the
best!
The Saturday morning crew who are the best support system and circle of friends I never
knew I needed; and
My sponsor who has been my cheerleader, mentor, confidant, and friend.

i
Dedication
This work is dedicated to the members of Al-Anon Family Groups. My life has been
profoundly changed for the better because of you. Thank you.
ii
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to gain knowledge about the relationship between sponsor and
sponsee in Al-Anon Family Groups from the perspective of sponsors and sponsees in Al-Anon.
The main question guiding my research is: What is the nature and quality of the sponsorship
relationship as perceived by sponsors and sponsees? Nineteen men and women were interviewed
and shared stories of their experience of being a sponsor and a sponsee in the Al-Anon program.
I utilized a holistic-content approach to analyze the date from the interviews. To help situate the
findings in current literature a discussion of sponsorship in Alcoholics Anonymous, therapy,
mentoring, and other helping groups is provided. The findings suggest that there are similarities
between Al-Anon sponsorship and mentoring in that both relationships progress through stages
of development. The findings suggest that boundaries are an important aspect of Al-Anon that
helps its members to healthily detach from other people. Al-Anon members are motivated to help
based on the culture of helping found in the program as seen through its service structure and
sponsorship. The leadership that Al-Anon sponsors provide finds connections with several
leadership theories including, transformational, servant, relational, and authentic leadership. The
electronic version of this dissertation is at AURA: Antioch University and Repository Archive,
https://aura.antioch.edu/ and Ohio Link ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu

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Table of Contents
Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................... i
Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... iii
List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. vi
List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... vii
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1
History of Support Groups ....................................................................................................... 2
The Beginning of Al-Anon ...................................................................................................... 5
Al-Anon Family Groups .......................................................................................................... 7
Sponsorship .............................................................................................................................. 8
Purpose of Study and Research Questions ............................................................................ 10
Rationale ................................................................................................................................ 10
Positionality of the Researcher .............................................................................................. 11
Contribution of This Study to Leading Change ..................................................................... 13
Organization of the Dissertation ........................................................................................... 13
Critical Review of Relevant Theory, Research, and Practice ....................................................... 15
Family Systems ...................................................................................................................... 15
Treatments ............................................................................................................................. 21
Therapy .................................................................................................................................. 24
Self Help for the Family ........................................................................................................ 27
Support Groups ...................................................................................................................... 27
Sponsorship ............................................................................................................................ 41
Mentorship ............................................................................................................................. 44
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 65
Methodology/Guiding Questions and Research Procedures, Narrative Research,
and Storytelling ............................................................................................................................. 66
Stories .................................................................................................................................... 66
Context ................................................................................................................................... 68
Method of Study .................................................................................................................... 72
Data Collection ...................................................................................................................... 77
iv
Analyzing and Interpreting Data ........................................................................................... 79
A Reflexive Posture ............................................................................................................... 81
Ethical Considerations ........................................................................................................... 82
Research Findings ......................................................................................................................... 85
Unfolding of Relationship ..................................................................................................... 85
Summary Analysis ............................................................................................................... 116
Discussion ................................................................................................................................... 118
Overview and Reflection on Key Findings ......................................................................... 119
Sponsorship, Therapy, and Friendship ................................................................................ 120
Sponsorship, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Mentorship ...................................................... 123
Boundaries in Relationship .................................................................................................. 136
Qualities of Non-Professional Helping Relationships ......................................................... 145
Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 155
Limitations ........................................................................................................................... 156
Implications for Practice ...................................................................................................... 157
Implications for Leadership and Change ............................................................................. 158
Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 163
Appendix ..................................................................................................................................... 164
Appendix A: Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous ....................................................... 165
Appendix B: Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous ............................................... 166
Appendix C: Letter Lois W. and Anne B. Sent to Groups and Individuals ........................ 168
Appendix D: Twelve Steps of Al-Anon .............................................................................. 169
Appendix E: Understanding Alcoholism ............................................................................. 170
Appendix F: Participant Survey ........................................................................................... 172
Appendix G: Collaboration With Researchers .................................................................... 174
Appendix H: Informed Consent ........................................................................................... 175
Appendix I: Twelve Traditions of Al-Anon ........................................................................ 179
Appendix J: Permissions …………………………………………………………………..181
References ................................................................................................................................... 184
v
List of Tables
Table 2.1. Four Phases of Mentoring ............................................................................................ 61
Table 5.1. Kram’s Phases of Mentoring ......................................................................................127

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