An SAA group consists of two or more individuals who, using the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of SAA, meet regularly for the purpose of recovering from their addictive sexual behavior.  At our meetings, we read SAA literature and share our experience, strength, and hope with each other, focusing on how the SAA program of recovery works in our lives.

    SAA meetings are run by members.  There are no professional or outside facilitators.  We meet as equals:  sex addicts helping one another to achieve sexual sobriety and to practice a new way of life.  We all contribute to making our meetings places that foster our recovery and carry the SAA message to the sex addict who still suffers.  Our fellow members depend upon us, as we depend on them.

    Because of the sensitive nature of sexual addiction, many of our groups are "closed," meaning that only those with a desire to stop addictive sexual behavior may attend.  Anyone else interested in finding out about SAA may attend "open" meetings.  While we all strive for sexual sobriety, its achievement is not a requirement for attendance or participation.  All participation is voluntary.  We are not required to speak if we don't want to.  Just by listening we can learn how other members become honest, confront their addiction, find support from fellow addicts, and practice the program.  We can learn how others have faced problems that are similar to ours, and how they have used the tools of the program to deal with them.  Members can have any religious belief, or no belief at all.  All sex addicts seeking recovery are welcome.

(Taken with permission from the ISO of SAA.  The excerpts above come from the book Sex Addicts Anonymous--the Green book--1st Edition, pg. 10-11).

    Our meetings usually last from 1 to 1 1/2 hours,  but if a member requires more time they may last longer.

   We often meet in churches or hospitals,  but we are not associated with those organizations.  We pay rent for the use of those facilities thus our only relationship with those organizations is that of a tenant to land-lord.

   You don't have to speak at the meeting. We encourage you to listen to what others have to share and try to IDENTIFY. Share when you feel the desire to share. Just begin speaking during the sharing time and try to be as honest as possible about what brings you to the meeting. You don't need to raise your hand.  

   No one is required to read. As a general rule when a text is read each member takes his turn reading NONE or more paragraphs of the text.

   We use the words "I" or "we" instead of "you" when sharing about our recovery.  We do not interrupt or give advice unless asked.  We address our sharing to the whole group, not to one or more individuals.  A meeting is not a place to meet sexual partners, nor is it group therapy.  We try not to use offensive language, or descriptions that are too explicit.  We avoid mentioning specific names or places associated with our acting out behavior.  Because of the nature of our addiction, we are careful about touching or giving hugs to others in the fellowship without permission (SAA Green Book, pg. 12).

   We strive to practice anonymity and confidentiality, so that the meeting will be a safe place for each and every sex addict.  We generally use only our first names in the group to help ensure anonymity.  Who we meet or what is said in a meeting is treated as confidential and is not discussed with non-group members (pg. 12).

   We are careful not to reveal names, places, relationships or other incriminating information when discussing sensitive issues such as sexual activity with minors, rape, or HIV positives engaging in unsafe sex.    These types of behaviors in no way constitute typical actions of our members; however, when they are part of a person's sex addiction, we simply ask them to be discrete. We suggest this to protect the individual and the group from outside interference.

   Some meetings may be as many as twenty or more people, others are three or four. Most meetings range from six to twelve people.