MODULE IV: Action

Phases of Fifth Step Ministry

 

Competency 8 - Be familiar with and utilize available community resources to ensure a continuum of care for the:
Addicted person
Family system
Affected children

Competency 9 - Have a general knowledge of and, where possible, exposure to:
The Twelve-Step programs – A.A., NA, Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, Alateen, ACOA, etc.
Other groups

Competency 11 - Be able to shape, form, and educate a caring congregation that welcomes and supports persons and families affected by alcohol and other drug dependence.

Competency 12 - Be aware of how prevention strategies can benefit the larger community.

Following is a generic description of the process involved in listening to a fifth step. It is wise for students to remember that fifth steps are idiosyncratic, depending upon the need, disposition and intent of the one sharing the step. Most students, unless they have done a fifth step themselves, will have no idea what to do or how to approach such a task. They would miss out on one of the most significant spiritual experiences, not only on the part of the one giving the fifth step, but the clergyperson would also miss out from experiencing this sacred time and space with another human being. If you do not have time to cover this in class, you certainly may reproduce the phases or stages noted below for your students.

Phase One: Preliminary Stage

  1. If someone calls requesting that you hear a fifth step, it is often a good idea to meet the person prior to the event to get to know each other.

  2. Encourage the person to bring the fourth step inventory that has been written out prior to the fifth step event. Most treatment centers, A.A. central offices can provide such guidelines to direct the person so as to have a meaningful fifth step experience.

  3. Make the appointment for a given day and time. A minimum of two hours should be set aside in the schedule to accomplish this experience. Some people may require more time, others less.

Phrase Two: Preparation Stage

  1. Prior to the person coming to your office to share the fifth step, prepare for the occasion in this manner:
  • Make certain that for the time set aside, you are NOT interrupted by the ringing of a desk phone, cell phone or any other electronic device. If there are staff people present, make certain that they do not disturb you nor allow visitors to knock at your door. Complete privacy in an undisturbed setting is essential.

  • Make certain that your office or conference room where you will meet is welcoming and comfortable. Beverages may be made available for the person. The lights should not be bright and the temperature of the room comfortable.

  • Prepare yourself spiritually according to your own tradition to hear the contents of the fifth step. Prepare to hear most anything! It is important to brace Oneself for the possibility of hearing painful and sometimes sordid material from the person.

Phase Three: Beginning Stage

  1. When the person arrives, warmly welcome her or him with a firm handshake and help the person to feel at home.

  2. Invite her or him to sit in a comfortable place.

  3. The awkward silence that sometimes can ensue can be broken by a simple statement such as, "I am grateful that you are here. I realize that this is not easy for you. I hope that in honestly completing this process, you will experience healing and hope."

  4. Reiterate for the person that this is confidential. "What is said here will stay here, when you leave here!" may be familiar words that the person will recognize from a Twelve-Step meeting.

  5. Invite the person to use the fourth step inventory as structure to share the fifth step. It may be that the one doing the step will be anxious to "get something off their chest." If so, that is an appropriate place for the person to begin.

  6. Barring any other concerns, invite the person to begin where s/he chooses.

Phase Four: The Listening Stage

  1. Indicate to the person that you are here to listen. You will NOT interrupt unless there is something that you did not hear or did not understand. Clarification or elaboration, are the only two reasons for interrupting the person's story.

  2. Have available a box of tissue, because people who share a fifth step often become very emotional in the telling of the story.

  3. Should the person become emotional, it is important for the listener to be a non-anxious presence and accept the emotion and its expression as acceptable. The person should be encouraged to take time, because we are in no rush and this is important work for healing.

  4. If the person is sharing vague generalities, then it is appropriate to interrupt for the sake of specific elaboration and clarification.

  5. Many fifth step processes also provide an opportunity for the person to share her or his assets! In addition to clearing the conscience of the guilt and shame, there is an opportunity for the person to share how s/he feels she has been uniquely blessed with gifts and assets for living. The purpose of this exercise is to aid in building the self esteem and sense of self worth and value.

    • People sometimes have more difficulty identifying their gifts than their foibles.

    • Encourage the person to state with specificity what they have going for them and how these assets will be helpful in staying clean and sober.

    • Help them to remember that one of the greatest gifts and assets is that of honesty as exemplified by them doing this fifth step process.

  6. When the person indicates that s/he is finished, you might ask:

    1. Is there anything else that is burdening you that you haven't shared? (For those who have held back, this provides the opening for them to share that secret or painful situation.)

    2. If the person in your judgment has done well, be certain to tell her/him that this is the case. Be certain also to emphasize the importance and value of the assets or gifts that have been articulated.

    3. Sometimes the person will want to discuss Steps 8 and 9, that is making amends to people they have hurt, "unless to do so would hurt others," is the qualifier in that step. Discussing what may be appropriate and inappropriate in terms of amends is time well spent.

    4. It is also appropriate, if you deem it to be the case, that you ask the person to do the fifth step again. The usual reason for asking a person to do this is that the head may still not be completely clear, there is a sense that the person is still hiding some issues or you get the sense that the person is still blaming others for the problem. You might detect the fact that the person is still minimizing, rationalizing or trivializing the impact of the addiction on others as well as the self. If this is the case, be certain to immediately make another appointment in a matter of weeks to do the fifth step again.

Phase Five: Closure

  1. Thank the person once again for the privilege of hearing the fifth step.

  2. Once again remind them of the fact that what has been said is confidential.

  3. If after leaving, other concerns and remembrances begin to emerge, it is both encouraged and appropriate to make another appointment to hear an addendum as it were to the fifth step.

  4. Bid the person a fond farewell and wish them well in their continuing recovery process.

This is a very important service of ministry that a religious leader can provide for the whole community in which the leader is serving. It can be time consuming, so it is important for the religious leader to establish time parameters. Because of the emotional stress and strain on the religious leader, it is best to have adequate time spaces between listening to fifth steps.


Module Home • Introduction • General Considerations • Spirituality and the Twelve Steps • Factors that Contribute to the Success of the
Twelve Step Program • Phases of the Fifth Step Ministry • Additional Module of Possibilities