The first step in a journey through a twelve-step program is to admit that you have a problem. It takes a lot of courage to admit you have a problem. During my participation in Gamblers Anonymous, I was able to observe seven very courageous people. As McDonagh says in his article "Shared Benefits," the benefit of group therapy is "...discovering the group as a safe environment where you can say what's on your mind." without fear. » McDonagh presents and discusses descriptions of group therapy clearly and in a way that one does not need to be a therapist or researcher to understand his findings. This article explains how to find a group giving advice on what you should look for when looking for a support group and suggests you don't reject a group you don't like until you've given it 3 months. The overall goal of Gambler's Anonymous is to support people who have a serious gambling problem. Most of these people have wasted their savings and destroyed their families. At Gamblers Anonymous, the goal is to stop gambling. This may seem simple to someone who doesn't have a gambling addiction, but according to those at the meeting, it's a conscious decision they have to make every day. The gambling they are supposed to avoid is not only in casinos, but also in small bets. For example, “I bet you $5 the Broncos will win the Super Bowl” is frowned upon in the twelve-step program. They do not accept donations from outside sources. It is self-funded by contributions from members of Gambler's Anonymous. Another philosophy of Gamblers Anonymous is that it is difficult to fight addiction alone. They highly recommend that you attend meetings more than once a week until you can get your add...... middle of paper ...only after someone shares their story , no one can comment on what he said. In a way, this is a good thing, because no one can minimize their feelings by saying something wrong. However, this can also be a bad thing, because sometimes people in support groups ask for advice and no one is allowed to answer directly. Applying this to my own nursing practice, I realize that everyone goes through phases in their lives where they may need a group. therapy. It is important as a nurse to know where to find resources to connect patients with support groups in their area. Trying to find a support group and choosing which group I wanted to attend really opened my eyes to addiction issues in the greater Oklahoma City area that I didn't know existed and that's exactly what Gamblers Anonymous did. Works Cited McDonagh, P. (1997). Shared benefits. Chatelaine, 70(6), 136.