Thursday, 06 September 2012 08:39

‘Adult children” from dysfunctional families encouraged to attend recovery program
A nationally-recognized program designed to help heal and renew adults who grew up in emotionally repressive or dysfunctional families—sometimes known as “adult children” – is being offered starting Sept. 27 at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.
The Twelve Steps—A Spiritual Journey, is a seven-month program where participants meet for two hours each week with a team of trained facilitators. The ultimate goal of this Christ-centered, Scripture-based program is to restore the fruits of the Holy Spirit in one’s life, including joy, peace, gentleness, goodness and faith.
“As someone who has been both a participant and a facilitator in the Twelve Step Program, I want to extend an invitation for interested people to join us,” said John Mertes, who joins Rachel Hughey, Pamela Perryman, and Steve Batt as facilitators for the program.
“The Twelve Steps has been widely praised for its effectiveness and is based on the lessons of Scripture while emphasizing self-understanding and the unchanging love that God has for each of us.”
The opening Twelve Step session is set for Thursday, Sept. 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Spiritual Life Center, 7100 E. 45 St. N. in Wichita. A total of 30 sessions will be offered over the next seven months.
Program facilitator Pamela Perryman said the first three sessions typically involve participants getting to know the process and each other. The program is closed to new members after the first three meetings. “Everything we discuss is held in the strictest confidence,“ Perryman said. “As time goes on, a unique bond of trust develops in the group.”
The Twelve Steps is open to anyone who has experienced an incident or situation during their formative years resulting in emotional wounds that are not yet healed.
This could include growing up in a household where there was physical or emotional abuse, alcoholism, drug abuse or some other dysfunction.

Want to attend?
Anyone interested in the Twelve Steps—A Spiritual Journey can call the Spiritual Life Center at (316) 744-0167 and ask for a brochure or talk with someone about the program. There is no cost for the program, but a freewill offering is taken and a helpful workbook sells for $20.