Are You Ready to Be a Sponsor?

Many people who attend 12-step groups ask someone in the group to be their sponsor. A sponsor is someone farther along in recovery who feels comfortable offering support and guidance to another group member. After a certain time of benefitting from having a sponsor, individuals may feel they are ready to step up and become a sponsor to someone else. There are things to consider to make sure they are ready.

How to Become a Sponsor

Becoming someone’s sponsor is typically an informal process, but it’s essential to make sure the person is ready. A general guideline is that the sponsor has at least a year of sobriety under their belt, and they are not in danger of losing it. Many believe that a sponsor should have accomplished all 12 steps before becoming a mentor. A group member may ask someone to sponsor them, or a person may suggest the idea of sponsoring another person. 

Be Aware of Potential Risks

A sponsor is often contacted when their sponsee is struggling or tempted to use, making the sponsor’s ability to talk to someone in an effective manner important. A sponsor must be sure that their recovery will not be negatively impacted by someone else’s crisis. Their personalities do not have to match, but they should be comfortable working together long-term. A sponsor and sponsee should not become romantically involved, making it essential to choose someone to whom the sponsor is not attracted. 

Many people in a recovery program for alcohol or drug abuse find that having a sponsor helps them feel understood and move forward. It is only natural that some people will want to become a sponsor for someone else. It’s essential to be strong in your recovery and capable of handling situations and conversations with the person you sponsor without risking being triggered or relapsing. Valiant Living is experienced at helping people who have lost control of their lives through addiction find a way to enter recovery and stay there. We offer detox, residential, and outpatient services designed to help you succeed where other programs have failed. Our scenic location near Denver provides the perfect backdrop for those in need of our men-only programs to embrace sobriety and reset their lives. We also treat co-occurring mental health issues. Call us now at (303) 952-5035 and find out how to get started on a healthy and happy you!