STAY CONNECTED TO VIBRANTVICTORIA
WHAT'S HAPPENING ON CITIFIED VICTORIA
Hello,
Has a counselor, friend or loved one told you to go to a twelve step group only to find that you did not feel right when you were there? There are alternatives to these meetings and they have the same common goal of staying clean and sober.
A new secular (not pertaining to or connected with religion) meeting called LifeRing http://www.unhooked.com will start here in January and I expect it to be very popular. LifeRing is a viable and popular alternative to AA, NA,CA or any other faith based recovery group. LifeRing is based in the USA but has been making efforts to come north and I will start the first group in Victoria while several others across Canada are going strong.
I am presently gauging response from addiction professionals and people who will use these meetings looking for an alternative way to recover before the meeting space is selected.
I would suggest having a look at the website and decide for yourself if LifeRing is something you should consider. Recovery needn't be chaotic, demoralizing and confusing so you should come and check out LifeRing to get you where you want to be in recovery.
Send me an e-mail and I will put you on the e-mail list for when the meetings will start.
_________________________________________________________________
"For the first time I felt relaxed in a recovery meeting. There were no 'drunkalogues,' no 12 steps, and - yay! - no God talk. The focus was on what's happening in our lives now. We just went around the room and checked in about how our week had gone. You could talk about any drug you were trying to quit, not just alcohol. And 'cross talk' was fine. We were allowed to ask questions and make comments on what each other said. At the end of the meeting, we gave ourselves a round of applause for staying clean and sober. That was all there was to it. I loved it." This was a quote from a LifeRing member in California.
New addiction recovery meeting called LifeRing starting in January
Started by
LifeRing
, Dec 30 2007 04:04 PM
17 replies to this topic
#2
LifeRing
-
- Member
- 17 posts
Posted 24 January 2008 - 10:05 PM
Victoria has been awaiting an alternative to twelve step faith based recovery meetings for several years and the inaugural LifeRing meeting will start on January 30, 2008 at 7:45pm at the Fairfield Community Association. For more information please go to www.unhooked.com.
Any experienced addictions counselor knows there is not a “one stop shop” for solutions on addiction. For too long thousands of people have been referred to Alcoholics Anonymous, because it was apparently “the only” solution out there, only to fail. Sixty percent of people in recovery do so without AA. People should have a choice in their recovery and LifeRing offers a viable and highly recommended alternative.
LifeRing is a non-religious pathway to abstinence from alcohol and other drugs of abuse. Visitor’s who prefer moderation, harm reduction, or controlled drinking approaches are referred elsewhere. A meeting begins with “how was your week?”, has topic discussions and generally concludes with a mutual round of applause. Other than abstinence, LifeRing avoids recommending any particular recovery program to members, instead encouraging members to build personal recovery programs tailored to their particular needs. A fabulous 300 page workbook (Recovery by Choice) is available for building personal recovery programs in a structured way.
LifeRing works through the power of positive social reinforcement. LifeRing posits that there is a healthy, sober self residing alongside the addict self within each addicted person. Meetings establish supportive connections (synergy) between the sober selves and thereby reinforce them. The long-run goal is a stable dominance of the healthy self within the person, expressed in the slogan, "Empower Your Sober Self." The LifeRing approach is eclectic, open-ended, pragmatic, and evolved through recovering people's experience, but it shares common tenets with Cognitive Behaviorism, Motivational Interviewing, Solution- Focused Therapy, and similar academic and clinical approaches. In 2008 a growing number of treatment professionals are adapting the LifeRing approach to their treatment protocols.
In Victoria, buy-in has been swift. Doctors, nurses, mental health and addiction workers, police and of course people with alcohol and substance abuse have shown an incredible desire to utilize LifeRing meetings in Victoria with the hopes of creating several in various communities in the CRD. Many people try the twelve step approach only to find a heavy religious content that is off-putting. LifeRing is secular meaning not pertaining to or connected with religion so you can be assured you will not be asked to say The Lords Prayer.
Who: LifeRing Secular Recovery
Where: 1330 Fairfield Road at the Fairfield Community Association*
When: Wednesdays at 7:45PM
Convenor: Michael Walsh @ 920.2095
*This is the first of several meetings to get started in Victoria, the CRD and as far reaching as Sidney and Sooke. Already there are meetings in Nanaimo and Parksville.
Any experienced addictions counselor knows there is not a “one stop shop” for solutions on addiction. For too long thousands of people have been referred to Alcoholics Anonymous, because it was apparently “the only” solution out there, only to fail. Sixty percent of people in recovery do so without AA. People should have a choice in their recovery and LifeRing offers a viable and highly recommended alternative.
LifeRing is a non-religious pathway to abstinence from alcohol and other drugs of abuse. Visitor’s who prefer moderation, harm reduction, or controlled drinking approaches are referred elsewhere. A meeting begins with “how was your week?”, has topic discussions and generally concludes with a mutual round of applause. Other than abstinence, LifeRing avoids recommending any particular recovery program to members, instead encouraging members to build personal recovery programs tailored to their particular needs. A fabulous 300 page workbook (Recovery by Choice) is available for building personal recovery programs in a structured way.
LifeRing works through the power of positive social reinforcement. LifeRing posits that there is a healthy, sober self residing alongside the addict self within each addicted person. Meetings establish supportive connections (synergy) between the sober selves and thereby reinforce them. The long-run goal is a stable dominance of the healthy self within the person, expressed in the slogan, "Empower Your Sober Self." The LifeRing approach is eclectic, open-ended, pragmatic, and evolved through recovering people's experience, but it shares common tenets with Cognitive Behaviorism, Motivational Interviewing, Solution- Focused Therapy, and similar academic and clinical approaches. In 2008 a growing number of treatment professionals are adapting the LifeRing approach to their treatment protocols.
In Victoria, buy-in has been swift. Doctors, nurses, mental health and addiction workers, police and of course people with alcohol and substance abuse have shown an incredible desire to utilize LifeRing meetings in Victoria with the hopes of creating several in various communities in the CRD. Many people try the twelve step approach only to find a heavy religious content that is off-putting. LifeRing is secular meaning not pertaining to or connected with religion so you can be assured you will not be asked to say The Lords Prayer.
Who: LifeRing Secular Recovery
Where: 1330 Fairfield Road at the Fairfield Community Association*
When: Wednesdays at 7:45PM
Convenor: Michael Walsh @ 920.2095
*This is the first of several meetings to get started in Victoria, the CRD and as far reaching as Sidney and Sooke. Already there are meetings in Nanaimo and Parksville.
#3
LifeRing
-
- Member
- 17 posts
Posted 27 February 2008 - 09:35 PM
Five weeks into our new LifeRing Secular Recovery meeting and the response has been awesome.
LifeRing Secular Recovery is a network of mutual aid recovery groups based on the "Three-S philosophy: Sobriety (meaning abstinence), Secularity, and Self-Help. LSR provides a safe, supportive, resource-rich environment were participants design and build their own recovery programs, in accordance with their personality, culture, gender, lifestyle, and history. Because you design and build it yourself, you become deeply invested in your recovery, and you grow into a resilient, confident, and independent person who lives life to the fullest, free of alcohol and other addictive drugs.
Come and check us out at the Fairfield Community Centre at 1330 Fairfield Road at Moss Street, Wednesdays 7:45pm.
For more information on LifeRing got to http://www.unhooked.com or e-mail me at lifering@shaw.ca.
LifeRing Secular Recovery is a network of mutual aid recovery groups based on the "Three-S philosophy: Sobriety (meaning abstinence), Secularity, and Self-Help. LSR provides a safe, supportive, resource-rich environment were participants design and build their own recovery programs, in accordance with their personality, culture, gender, lifestyle, and history. Because you design and build it yourself, you become deeply invested in your recovery, and you grow into a resilient, confident, and independent person who lives life to the fullest, free of alcohol and other addictive drugs.
Come and check us out at the Fairfield Community Centre at 1330 Fairfield Road at Moss Street, Wednesdays 7:45pm.
For more information on LifeRing got to http://www.unhooked.com or e-mail me at lifering@shaw.ca.
#4
LifeRing
-
- Member
- 17 posts
Posted 12 March 2008 - 10:02 PM
Well I see that people are reading this thread so hopefully some are interested in this group. The present group (which is only 7 weeks old) is at capacity and I need to get a new group going in another area of town.
Is anybody on here interested in starting a LifeRing recovery meeting in their area? It does not matter where you live with the exception of Fairfield where there is a meeting already. The groundwork has been done and I have been getting the word out everywhere now we just need to set up meetings and they are easy to do.
I will offer you 100% support in doing this!
If you have any questions at all please send me an e-mail at lifering@shaw.ca.
Is anybody on here interested in starting a LifeRing recovery meeting in their area? It does not matter where you live with the exception of Fairfield where there is a meeting already. The groundwork has been done and I have been getting the word out everywhere now we just need to set up meetings and they are easy to do.
I will offer you 100% support in doing this!
If you have any questions at all please send me an e-mail at lifering@shaw.ca.
#5
Caramia
-
- Member
- 3,835 posts
Posted 13 March 2008 - 06:34 AM
Thanks for the good work you are doing! It is great that Victorian's struggling with addiction have an option for their recovery. Best wishes!
#8
Ms. B. Havin
-
- Member
- 5,052 posts
Posted 17 March 2008 - 08:58 AM
Great article -- sounds like LifeRing fills a real need.
When you buy a game, you buy the rules. Play happens in the space between the rules.
#10
LifeRing
-
- Member
- 17 posts
Posted 14 April 2008 - 08:58 PM
Beginning May 7th there will be a LifeRing meeting every Wednesday 7pm at Pacific Centre Family Services Association 2849 Peatt Road in Langford.
For more information you can contact clydefries@hotmail.com. Also, there is another meeting under construction in Victoria that is planned for Saturday nights. More information will be provided soon.
For more information you can contact clydefries@hotmail.com. Also, there is another meeting under construction in Victoria that is planned for Saturday nights. More information will be provided soon.
#11
LifeRing
-
- Member
- 17 posts
Posted 27 April 2008 - 08:49 PM
Following on the success of the first LifeRing meeting in Victoria on Wednesday nights at the Fairfield Community Place there is a second meeting starting up. This meeting will be on Saturday nights at 7:30pm at Fairfield United at the corner of Fairfield and Moss. The first meeting will be on May 10, 2008. The entrance to this meeting is on Moss Street at street level. Check for signage. For more information on LifeRing in Victoria or to get involved in this recovery group please contact Michael Walsh at lifering@shaw.ca or call 920.2095.
#12
LifeRing
-
- Member
- 17 posts
Posted 03 August 2008 - 10:05 PM
Number four meeting ready to go........
Please note that the Victoria Sobering and Assessment Centre has paved the way for LifeRing to start weekly meetings and the first one will be held on August 11th, 2008 at 3:00pm. As many of you are probably aware this will be a “closed meeting” and will be available every Monday only to clients presently utilizing the services at 1125 Pembroke Street. Myself along with Eli Pearson will co-convene the first three and then Eli will take over the meeting and run it himself.
This is great news for LifeRing as VIHA (amongst many other service providers and clients) continue to acknowledge LifeRing’s viability as a solid resource in the community of mental health and addictions in Victoria. Last Tuesday I was invited onto CFAX Radio to talk about LifeRing and this included a call in portion of the show and this created great awareness again.
Thank you all for your continued support and please pass this on to anyone you think would want to know about this new meeting.
Also under development in Victoria is a LifeRing meeting for those who are affected by people who have addictions to alcohol and/or drugs. The name is not yet confirmed but could be called something like “LifeRing Partners” (with some sort of a tag line; to include others who are affected and not just significant others) and the meetings could be starting soon in Victoria as someone has taken on the role of getting a group going. I will keep you informed when this happens.
Please note that the Victoria Sobering and Assessment Centre has paved the way for LifeRing to start weekly meetings and the first one will be held on August 11th, 2008 at 3:00pm. As many of you are probably aware this will be a “closed meeting” and will be available every Monday only to clients presently utilizing the services at 1125 Pembroke Street. Myself along with Eli Pearson will co-convene the first three and then Eli will take over the meeting and run it himself.
This is great news for LifeRing as VIHA (amongst many other service providers and clients) continue to acknowledge LifeRing’s viability as a solid resource in the community of mental health and addictions in Victoria. Last Tuesday I was invited onto CFAX Radio to talk about LifeRing and this included a call in portion of the show and this created great awareness again.
Thank you all for your continued support and please pass this on to anyone you think would want to know about this new meeting.
Also under development in Victoria is a LifeRing meeting for those who are affected by people who have addictions to alcohol and/or drugs. The name is not yet confirmed but could be called something like “LifeRing Partners” (with some sort of a tag line; to include others who are affected and not just significant others) and the meetings could be starting soon in Victoria as someone has taken on the role of getting a group going. I will keep you informed when this happens.
MEETINGS TAKE PLACE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:
Wednesdays at 7:45pm 1330 Fairfield Road in Victoria
Saturdays at 7:30pm 1301 Fairfield Road in Victoria
Wednesdays at 7:00pm 2849 Peatt Road in Langford
Mondays at 3:00pm 1125 Pembroke Street – (Detox) Victoria Sobering and Assessment Centre (CLOSED MEETING – AVAILABLE TO PATIENTS ONLY)
The meeting at Detox will begin August 11th, 2008.
#13
LifeRing
-
- Member
- 17 posts
Posted 09 September 2008 - 05:55 PM
LifeRing Secular Recovery
Presents
“Recovery by Choice, a Different Voice”
LifeRing Secular Recovery presents “Recovery by Choice, a Different Voice”, an evening motivated by positive recovery stories and solutions. It will be an open-house to celebrate recovery from addictions and to showcase LifeRing along with several other unique addiction recovery choices in Victoria. The event is September 26 from 6:00pm – 9:30pm including an intermission of refreshments at the Fairfield Community Association’s Garry Oak Room. There is no charge for this event.
Local organizations will be on hand as part of a panel/Q&A to talk about their programming and the successes they have in the community of Victoria. They will have tables set up with representatives on hand to provide information. Everyone is welcome at this event including people in recovery, family & friends of those in recovery or anyone looking for information for someone they know. We will have two separate panels including but not limited to representatives from Wilderness Rehab, Umbrella Society, Victoria Cool Aid Society’s Mentoring Project, Acacia Integrated Health, and Music and Art Therapy. The event is sponsored by the Fairfield Community Association, Silk Road Tea and Cooks Day Off. Recovery by Choice, a Different Voice will be a very informative evening with lots of recovery solutions so that everyone has a choice in how they recover. There is seating for 80 and RSVP is required. For more information please contact lifering@shaw.ca or call 250.920.2095. Seats will be gone quick!
#14
LifeRing
-
- Member
- 17 posts
Posted 10 September 2008 - 05:26 PM
Someone asked what the website was for LifeRing. Go to http://www.unhooked.com.
#15
LifeRing
-
- Member
- 17 posts
Posted 29 September 2008 - 09:27 PM
LifeRing Celebrates Recovery Through ‘Dry Wit’ – an Evening of Education and Entertainment
“North America’s fastest growing self-help secular recovery group for those struggling with alcohol and drug addiction plans first-of-its-kind Victoria event.”
Victoria, BC, September, 2008 – LifeRing Secular Recovery announced today that it will be presenting its first annual ‘Dry Wit’ production at the McPherson Playhouse, during Mental Illness Awareness week (October 5 – 11, 2008). Taking place on the evening of Friday October 10, the event will bring together over 20 local addiction, mental health and community service providers, allowing the public, healthcare workers and volunteers to view the many resources available for drug and alcohol addictions and mental health recovery in Victoria. The event will move from the foyer to the stage as a fabulous line-up of entertainment – all volunteered – will perform a variety of acts, hosted by Erick Thompson of A-British Columbia.
“This event is the first of its kind in Victoria,” said Michael Walsh, who founded the Victoria chapter of LifeRing in December 2007. “LifeRing takes a holistic approach to recovery in that one can use whatever tools are available to them for a successful recovery path, and many people have found it to be an invaluable alternative, or compliment, to other programs. But in addition to what LifeRing offers, there are so many other support organizations here in Victoria, and I am very pleased that we are coming together under one roof.”
The event is geared towards people currently in recovery, contemplating recovery, or seeking information on behalf of a friend or loved one. LifeRing’s motto is ‘Empower Your Sober Self’, and encourages its members to build personal recovery plans based on their beliefs and to take control of their recovery, on their terms, but with the support of their peers in the program, and in an open-dialogue forum.
Organizers are gifting at least 50% of the tickets to those presently in recovery and who may not otherwise be able to afford to attend. Organizations with kiosks at the event include the BC Association of Clinical Counselors, the RAK Foundation, Umbrella and Sooke Family Services Association. Entertainment will be provided by magician Shayne King, musician John Gogo, comedian Ray Parker, Nicky Deanne and a host of others.
Tickets are available at the McPherson box office or on-line at http://www.rmts.bc.ca
About LifeRing Secular Recovery
Founded in Oakland California, LifeRing is a non-profit, secular self-help group for those struggling with alcohol and drug addiction. LifeRing works through the power of positive social reinforcement and by encouraging members to feel empowered by their recovery and sobriety. www.unhooked.com
For further information contact:
Michael Walsh
Founder (Victoria) LifeRing
250.920.2095
lifering@shaw.ca
Or
Niq Lavergne
Unique Entertainment
Events Organizer
250.380.9189
divadeanne13@gmail.com
“North America’s fastest growing self-help secular recovery group for those struggling with alcohol and drug addiction plans first-of-its-kind Victoria event.”
Victoria, BC, September, 2008 – LifeRing Secular Recovery announced today that it will be presenting its first annual ‘Dry Wit’ production at the McPherson Playhouse, during Mental Illness Awareness week (October 5 – 11, 2008). Taking place on the evening of Friday October 10, the event will bring together over 20 local addiction, mental health and community service providers, allowing the public, healthcare workers and volunteers to view the many resources available for drug and alcohol addictions and mental health recovery in Victoria. The event will move from the foyer to the stage as a fabulous line-up of entertainment – all volunteered – will perform a variety of acts, hosted by Erick Thompson of A-British Columbia.
“This event is the first of its kind in Victoria,” said Michael Walsh, who founded the Victoria chapter of LifeRing in December 2007. “LifeRing takes a holistic approach to recovery in that one can use whatever tools are available to them for a successful recovery path, and many people have found it to be an invaluable alternative, or compliment, to other programs. But in addition to what LifeRing offers, there are so many other support organizations here in Victoria, and I am very pleased that we are coming together under one roof.”
The event is geared towards people currently in recovery, contemplating recovery, or seeking information on behalf of a friend or loved one. LifeRing’s motto is ‘Empower Your Sober Self’, and encourages its members to build personal recovery plans based on their beliefs and to take control of their recovery, on their terms, but with the support of their peers in the program, and in an open-dialogue forum.
Organizers are gifting at least 50% of the tickets to those presently in recovery and who may not otherwise be able to afford to attend. Organizations with kiosks at the event include the BC Association of Clinical Counselors, the RAK Foundation, Umbrella and Sooke Family Services Association. Entertainment will be provided by magician Shayne King, musician John Gogo, comedian Ray Parker, Nicky Deanne and a host of others.
Tickets are available at the McPherson box office or on-line at http://www.rmts.bc.ca
About LifeRing Secular Recovery
Founded in Oakland California, LifeRing is a non-profit, secular self-help group for those struggling with alcohol and drug addiction. LifeRing works through the power of positive social reinforcement and by encouraging members to feel empowered by their recovery and sobriety. www.unhooked.com
For further information contact:
Michael Walsh
Founder (Victoria) LifeRing
250.920.2095
lifering@shaw.ca
Or
Niq Lavergne
Unique Entertainment
Events Organizer
250.380.9189
divadeanne13@gmail.com
#16
LifeRing
-
- Member
- 17 posts
Posted 31 July 2009 - 06:47 PM
Hey everyone,
LifeRing meetings continue to get a very positive response in Victoria.
There is a new meeting starting for women only, and it will begin August 4th at 7pm. Meetings will take place every Tuesday at 7pm at 1792 Townley Street (Victoria Pacific Rim Alliance Church.)
Check out http://www.liferingcanada.org for more information. If you would like electronic brochures about LifeRing e-mailed to you, including the latest meeting schedule, please e-mail info@liferingcanada.org
LifeRing meetings continue to get a very positive response in Victoria.
There is a new meeting starting for women only, and it will begin August 4th at 7pm. Meetings will take place every Tuesday at 7pm at 1792 Townley Street (Victoria Pacific Rim Alliance Church.)
Check out http://www.liferingcanada.org for more information. If you would like electronic brochures about LifeRing e-mailed to you, including the latest meeting schedule, please e-mail info@liferingcanada.org
#17
Phil McAvity
-
- Member
- 1,238 posts
Posted 01 August 2009 - 06:49 AM
Thank god they don't talk about religion.
12 step programs aren't about religion either, they are about spirituality-there's a difference.
12 step programs aren't about religion either, they are about spirituality-there's a difference.
In chains by Keynes
#18
LifeRing
-
- Member
- 17 posts
Posted 02 November 2009 - 11:45 PM
This is number six for LifeRing in Victoria. The popular secular peer-support concept of addiction recovery started it's newest group in Fernwood tonight.
Monday nights:
Time: 7:30 PM
Place: Fernwood Community Centre
Address: 1240 Gladstone Ave
Check out http://www.liferingcanada.org or http://www.lifering.org (USA) for more information.
e-mail: info@liferingcanada.org (based in Victoria)
phone: 250.920.2095
Monday nights:
Time: 7:30 PM
Place: Fernwood Community Centre
Address: 1240 Gladstone Ave
Check out http://www.liferingcanada.org or http://www.lifering.org (USA) for more information.
e-mail: info@liferingcanada.org (based in Victoria)
phone: 250.920.2095
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users
