What Is a Sponsor in AA and What Do They Do in Recovery?

Getting sober isn’t easy, but maintaining it can be even more difficult. But with the right support from people who understand what you’re going through, you can achieve sobriety and, more importantly, maintain it. For many members of AA, sponsorship is a key element of their recovery journey.

Whether you’re considering AA or just curious about how it works, including what exactly a sponsor is, how you can find one, and what you can expect to gain from the relationship, this guide will answer those questions and give you the clarity you need.

What Is an AA Sponsor?

In Alcoholics Anonymous, a sponsor is a member who has achieved a level of stability in their own sobriety and agrees to support a new member (referred to as their sponsee) through the 12 steps of recovery.

The concept of sponsorship has been a part of recovery since the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous. It dates back to the earliest days of AA, when co-founder Bill W. recognized that helping another alcoholic achieve sobriety early on was an essential part of sustaining his own sobriety.

An AA sponsor is not a therapist, counselor, or healthcare provider and does not provide clinical care or offer any type of medical or clinical advice.[1] Instead, a sponsor draws from their own life experiences, helping the sponsee through the steps of recovery by sharing personal experiences of how the 12 steps helped them in managing and overcoming their addiction.

The Role of a Sponsor in the 12-Step Program

One of the major roles of an AA sponsor is to guide their sponsee through implementing the 12 steps. This plays out in many different ways throughout the recovery process. Some common examples are listed below:

Guiding Step Work

As part of helping their sponsee work through the steps, an AA sponsor will assist the sponsee in developing an adequate understanding and application of AA literature, especially the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, which is the foundational document of the program.

Being Available for Support

Good AA sponsors make themselves available to assist their sponsee during difficult situations, especially when the sponsee is facing cravings, managing difficult emotions, or considering a relapse. Although sponsors do not keep a 24/7 schedule, it is common in a sponsor/sponsee relationship for the sponsee to be able to contact the sponsor when they need to talk and to be there for them when they need someone to reflect on difficult experiences with.

Offering Accountability

Sponsorships also provide accountability. Knowing that a sponsor is genuinely invested in the sponsee’s success provides much of the motivation needed by new members in early sobriety. AA sponsors frequently check in with their sponsees, ask challenging questions, and provide gentle accountability when a sponsee’s thoughts or behaviors call for it.

Sharing Personal Views Without Imposing Them

The AA Twelve Traditions state that Alcoholics Anonymous does not take a position on issues outside of AA. Sponsors share personal experiences and opinions with their sponsees but do not pressure them to adopt those opinions. This is to help the sponsee gain their own understanding of the AA program and develop their own relationship with a Higher Power, a spiritual concept that everyone defines differently as part of their recovery.

What Makes a Good Sponsor?

Not every AA member is suited to sponsorship, and finding the right sponsor for you matters.

A good sponsor should have:

• Significant and continuous period of sobriety
• Completed the 12 steps
• Have an active commitment to the AA program through attending meetings and group activities. A good sign that a sponsor is committed to their program is that they have a sponsor themselves.

The AA program encourages members to find same-sex sponsors, as a romantic or sexual dynamic can complicate the sponsor/sponsee relationship. It is also important that your sponsor’s philosophy of the AA program reflects your own. You want someone who takes the steps seriously, has an open line of communication, and represents the type of recovery you want to achieve.

Pay attention to how a potential sponsor handles problems in their own life. Finding a sponsor who can remain calm under pressure, be honest without being unkind, and who is secure in their own sobriety will be key to your success in the program.

How to Find an AA Sponsor

Finding an AA sponsor can feel overwhelming to those new to the program. One of the best places to find a potential sponsor is at an AA meeting. Listen to the sharing at your meeting and pay attention to whether it relates to you and your needs.

Most AA groups recommend that new members seek a temporary sponsor early in their recovery to provide immediate support until a long-term sponsor is found. Contacting the AA helpline in your area can also connect you with additional resources to help find a long-term sponsor.

When approaching a member to ask them to be your sponsor, a simple and direct approach works best. For example, “I am working on my recovery through the program, and I am looking for a sponsor. Will you sponsor me?” Most members with significant sobriety will be open to this and interested in working with you.

Sponsorship in NA and Other 12-Step Programs

Sponsorship is not unique to Alcoholics Anonymous.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) also has a strong tradition of sponsorship and utilizes many of the same principles as AA. Like AA, NA sponsors support and guide their sponsees through the steps and continue to provide support throughout their recovery journey.

While there may be variations between the various 12-step programs, the central theme of providing support and guidance to someone new to the program remains consistent across all of them.

The Benefits of Having a Sponsor

Research supports what addiction treatment professionals have observed for years: peer support plays an important role in achieving long-term recovery.[2]

Sponsors provide a secure and non-judgmental support system that complements the care offered through treatment programs. For many people in recovery, their sponsor becomes one of the most significant people in their lives.

Sponsors also hold a unique credibility in the eyes of their sponsees, not because of credentials or years of experience, but because of their personal experience as someone in recovery. When a sponsor says “the program works,” it carries weight because they are speaking from their own story.

Beyond the support that sponsees receive, sponsors benefit from the relationship too. The majority of long-term sober members of AA report that sponsoring others deepened their own commitment to sobriety and reinforced the lessons learned through working the steps, positively impacting their mental health and quality of life.

Sponsorship and Professional Treatment

Sponsorship and professional therapy are both important parts of recovering from addiction, but they work best together within a broader plan of care. The purpose of a sponsor is to provide peer support and should not replace the treatment provided by clinically trained professionals.

New Waters Recovery recognizes the importance of connection during recovery. If you or someone you know has a substance use disorder and would like to learn more about how New Waters fits into your journey, our team is happy to talk with you.

Frequently Asked Questions