PAA & ACoPPA Meeting Guidelines, Safety, and Group Structure
About PAA & ACoPPA
Parental Alienation Anonymous (PAA) and Adult Children of Parental Alienation (ACoPPA) are peer-led 12-step recovery fellowships for those affected by parental alienation and estrangement. PAA serves currently alienated parents, grandparents, and family members. ACoPPA serves adults who were alienated as children. Both fellowships share similar meeting structure, safety guidelines, and recovery focus. This document applies to all PAA and ACoPPA meetings.
1. Introduction
PAA & ACoPPA offer recovery-based peer support to those affected by the trauma and consequences of parental alienation and estrangement. Our meetings are a place to connect, heal, and grow through the shared language of recovery.
Meetings follow a consistent structure to create safety, stability, and emotional support for everyone. This document explains how meetings are run, what safe sharing looks like, and how we maintain unity and consistency across all groups.
2. Purpose of Meetings
PAA & ACoPPA meetings are not therapy, legal guidance, or debate forums. They are 12-step recovery meetings focused on healing through spiritual principles and emotional growth.
Meetings are built around:
- Emotional safety
- Peer support and connection
- Hope-based recovery
- Boundaries and respect
- Personal responsibility and growth
3. Who Runs Meetings?
Meetings are run by a Secretary and may include a Co-Secretary. A Leader shares their recovery story to open the meeting. Other service roles may include Timer or Readers.
- The Secretary keeps the meeting safe and on script.
- The Leader shares experience, strength, and hope.
- The Timer helps maintain time fairness.
- All service roles are volunteer-based.
Both fellowships are peer-run and have no paid staff.
4. Safe Sharing Guidelines
Members may share what is alive for them, but we share in a general way to prevent harm. This means:
✅ Share your own experience
✅ Focus on recovery and growth
✅ Avoid graphic detail
✅ Do not attack, diagnose, or name others
✅ Avoid legal strategy discussion
5. Sensitive Content Policy (Important)
To protect emotional safety, explicit or graphic trauma is not shared in meetings. This includes:
- Suicide or self-harm details
- Child abuse details
- Sexual abuse, rape, or incest descriptions
- Domestic violence or brutality details
- Criminal allegations or legal strategies
- Diagnosing others (e.g., “my ex is a narcissist”)
- Graphic alienation scenes or court detail dumping
These topics can be shared in a general way. For deeper processing, speak with a sponsor, trusted servant, or professional. Meeting safety protects every member from secondary trauma.
6. Why We Protect Meeting Safety
Safety is essential for recovery. Many members join meetings already emotionally overwhelmed. Sharing graphic trauma can re-trigger others. We limit detail not to silence anyone, but to protect everyone.
Recovery is possible without graphic intensity—our goal is healing, not re-injury.
7. Redirection During a Meeting
If a share becomes unsafe, graphic, abusive, or harmful, a Secretary or Leader may gently redirect the member to protect the group.
A member may be redirected if they:
- Share explicit trauma
- Identify other parties by name
- Give legal or therapeutic advice
- Attack or blame others
- Break group safety
✅ Secretary Redirection Script:
“Thank you for your share. For the safety of the group, we avoid graphic trauma and outside issues. Please continue in a general way and focus on recovery. We’re glad you’re here.”
If needed, the secretary may mute, private message, or move someone to the waiting room if safety is at risk.
8. Outside Literature
We read only PAA, ACoPPA, and Al-Anon approved literature in meetings. Members may mention outside books or resources only in a general way and not as instruction or promotion.
9. Group Conscience – Your Voice Matters
Every group holds Group Conscience to address concerns and improvements. Any member may request a group conscience. Format changes must be submitted by secretaries to the Quarterly Secretaries Meeting to maintain unity across meetings.
10. Service in PAA & ACoPPA
Service is how we heal together. Roles include:
- Timer
- Reader
- Leader
- Co-Secretary
- Secretary
Requirements for Secretary:
- Has a sponsor
- Is working the 12 steps
- Six-month commitment
- Honors meeting safety guidelines
11. Safety Disclaimer
PAA & ACoPPA meetings do not replace therapy, professional intervention, or legal services. If you are in crisis or danger, please contact local emergency services or a mental health professional.
12. Living Document + Feedback
This is a living service document. It may evolve as our fellowship grows. Your feedback is welcome.
📩 Email suggestions to: paaServiceBoard@gmail.com
In service and unity,
PAA & ACoPPA Service Board
