Guided by trained peers and professionals, participants come to help themselves and help each other using a variety of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and motivational tools and techniques. SMART Recovery meetings are free and run weekly for 90 minutes. Each meeting is guided by a trained facilitator.
It is a peer support group where people are there to help themselves and help each other. People report back on how their last week has been, discuss the agenda item they have put forward and what their plans are for the coming week. The SMART Recovery tools are discussed and used during the meeting.
SMART Recovery Meetings are non-judgmental spaces where you can connect with others for mutual support. Run by trained facilitators, they usually run between 60-90 mins and are free to attend.
The overall three-word guideline for a SMART Recovery meeting is “Do SMART Recovery.” Our meetings are lively discussions about how to use the SMART tools to accomplish the 4-Points of the SMART Recovery program: (1) Building and maintaining motivation; (2) Coping with urges; (3) Managing thoughts, feelings, and ...
The 4-Point Program
Building and maintaining motivation. Coping with urges and cravings. Managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Living a balanced life.
This study found that SMART Recovery participants had as good alcohol outcomes at 6-month and 12-month follow-ups as those attending other MHOs.
Specific: I will reduce my alcohol use by at least one glass every day for the next month. Measurable: I'll mark my calendar or journal each day I meet my alcohol reduction goal.
The 40/20/40 meeting rule is a productivity framework suggesting that for effective meetings, 40% of the effort should go into preparation, 20% into the actual meeting, and 40% into productive follow-through, ensuring decisions turn into actions, not just talk. This approach, popularized by books like How to Fix Meetings, emphasizes clear objectives, agendas, and post-meeting accountability to transform time spent in meetings into real results.
10 golden rules for meetings & seminars
First, you will be greeted with a smile, a welcome, and usually given a few pages that explain SMART. The SMART meetings last anywhere from 60-90 minutes, are free (donations accepted) and are open to anyone. Our meetings focus on self-empowerment and choice and we do not use labels like alcoholic or addict.
And when you are trying to fight an addiction to alcohol or drugs, the first 30 days of sobriety are usually the most challenging. You have made a commitment to change, but it is hard. The first month without the substance that has controlled your life can be the toughest; it can feel worse before it feels better.
The "20-minute rule for alcohol" is a simple strategy to moderate drinking: wait 20 minutes after finishing one alcoholic drink before starting the next, giving you time to rehydrate with water and reassess if you truly want another, often reducing cravings and overall intake. It helps slow consumption, break the chain of continuous drinking, and allows the body a natural break, making it easier to decide if you've had enough or switch to a non-alcoholic option.
The idea is that a 30-minute meeting should be cut down to 25 minutes, the other 5 minutes should be spent disconnected. A 60-minute meeting should be cut down to 50 minutes with 10 minutes spent disconnected.
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The rule of 7 suggests that meetings with more than seven attendees are less effective, decreasing the likelihood of quick, executable decisions by 10%.
One way to improve meeting quality is by following the 5 P's: purpose, preparation, progress, participation, and process.
The 7 P's meeting framework is a tool used to plan and structure effective meetings. The framework includes seven key elements that should be considered when planning a meeting: Purpose, Participants, Process, Product, Place, Preparation, and Pacing.
“Our structure is typically the 10/10/10 model: 10 minutes for the direct to speak what is on their mind first, then 10 minutes for my items, then 10 minutes 'for the future,' discussing what specific action items there might be from the conversation to make sure we follow up on.”
The 4 Ps framework helps improve meeting efficiency by ensuring that the meeting has a clear objective (Purpose), a targeted outcome (Product), the right participants (People), and a well-structured agenda (Process).
Meetings today have really been killing time and zapping productivity for a lot of us, which is why I really like Bob Iger's 10-minute Rule, which consists of 10-minute micro meetings focused on a particular topic. So maybe, as a leader, you just want to get a quick update on something.
When you cold-call, you have only roughly 20 seconds to gain their interest. At that point you need to give them an out or you risk making a bad impression; they may be about to run off to a meeting and keeping them on the phone would be a no-no. So if you haven't interested them enough by then, you're done.
SMART Recovery recommends using SMART goals—not because we invented the acronym, but because it works. Here's how it breaks down: Specific – The goal is clear and well-defined. Measurable – You can track your progress. Agreeable – You're willing to commit to it (not something you feel forced into).
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A SMART goal in rehabilitation refers to a goal-setting framework that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.