The first step in a journey through a twelve-step program is to admit that you have a problem. It takes a lot of courage to admit you have a problem. During my participation in Gamblers Anonymous I was able to observe seven very courageous people. As McDonagh says in his article “Shared Benefits,” the benefit of group therapy is “…discovering the group as a safe environment where you can speak your mind without fear.” McDonagh presents and discusses descriptions of group therapy clearly and in such a way that you do not need to be a therapist or researcher to understand his findings. This article explains how to find a group by providing tips on what you should look for when looking for a support group and suggests that you don't delete a group you don't like until you've given it 3 months. The overall aim of "Gambler's Anonymous" is to support people who have a serious gambling problem. Most of these people have squandered their life savings and destroyed their families. At Gamblers Anonymous, the goal is to never gamble again. It may seem simple to those who don't have a gambling addiction, but according to the meeting participants it is a conscious decision that they must make every day. The gambling they should avoid is not just casinos, but also small bets. For example, “I bet you $5 that the Broncos will win the Super Bowl,” is frowned upon in the twelve-step program. They do not accept donations from outside sources. It is self-funded thanks to contributions from Gambler's Anonymous members. Another philosophy of Gamblers Anonymous is that it is difficult to fight addiction alone. They highly recommend that you attend meetings more than once a week until you get your add…halfway through the paper…that after someone shares their story, no one can comment on what they said. In a way this is good because no one can diminish their feelings by saying something wrong. However, this can also be a bad thing because sometimes people in support groups ask for advice and no one is allowed to respond directly. Applying this to my nursing practice, I realize that everyone goes through stages in their lives where they may need a group. therapy. It is important as a nurse to know where you can find resources to connect patients with support groups in their area. Trying to find a support group and choosing which group I wanted to attend really opened my eyes to addiction issues in the Oklahoma City area that I wasn't aware of and Gamblers Anonymous did just that. Works Cited McDonagh, P. (1997). Shared benefits. Castellaine, 70(6), 136.