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In 2024, the Literature Committee (LC) conducted a member survey about future topics for new Conference Approved Literature (CAL).
The survey consisted of two parts:
The first part asked members to rank a list of 15 possible CAL topic ideas that have been provided to the LC over the last several years. The rankings they could select for each item in the list included “very important,” “important,” and “not important.”
The second part provided a space where members could comment on or make suggestions about any other CAL topic that they thought would be helpful for their recovery.
The seven LC Editors are grateful to the 276 S-Anon members who responded to the survey. We thoughtfully evaluated all the feedback our members provided. We received many suggestions for CAL topics that would be helpful to S-Anon members. At this point, S-Anon is able to create CAL for only some of these topics with our current level of resources. The survey results will help inform decisions on how to best allocate LC Editor resources as we work to fulfill our purpose of assuring that every aspect of the S-Anon program of recovery is presented in adequate, comprehensive, and consistent written material.
In the first part of the survey, of the 15 potential CAL topics listed for member ranking, the top five that received a “very important” ranking (from between 189-211 of the 276 unique respondents) were:
-S-Anon literature: Why it is a helpful tool, how members use it in their recovery.
-Admitting powerlessness and unmanageability: Step One stories.
LC Editor thoughts: We do not have CAL specifically on Step One. However, S-Anon Twelve Steps and the book Into the Light under development do contain information and member stories about Step One.
-S-Anon member stories on working the Steps.
LC Editor thoughts: We do not have a piece of CAL containing only Step stories. However, S-Anon Twelve Steps and the book Into the Light under development do contain information and quite a few member stories about working all the Steps.
-Choosing healthy relationships (deciding which relationships to continue in a healthy S-Anon recovery, which might include issues such as detachment, breaking off contact with friends/loved ones/institutions, separation/divorce decisions).
-Member stories about topics such as rediscovering and recovering one’s true self, identifying one’s likes and needs, and developing emotional and spiritual intimacy with others.
LC Editor thoughts: The fellowship has already expressed a need for CAL on this topic when, at the 2023 WSC, a motion for a new CAL “book consisting of member shares that cover topics such as rediscovering and recovering oneself, identifying one’s likes and needs, and developing intimacy with oneself and others” was approved. Also, the book Into the Light under development contains some member stories on this topic.
In the second part of the survey, the free form comments from members reflected quite a few recurring CAL topic themes, which fell into three general categories:
1. CAL topics that are not yet covered in a specific existing or draft piece of CAL.
2. CAL topics that are already covered in some depth in existing CAL or new CAL in development.
3. Member comments related to issues that the LC Editors believe are not part of the role of the LC or relate to outside issues that do not belong in S-Anon CAL. We include these in our report because we believe it is important for our fellowship to be aware of these comments per Concept Five: “The Rights of Appeal and Petition protect minorities and assure that they be heard.”
Among the comments received for topics that are not yet covered in a specific existing or draft piece of CAL, the most common themes included:
-Advanced Work on Steps and Principles.
-Healthy Sexuality.
-Inclusivity/Diversity Themes.
-Intimacy in Relationships.
The fellowship has already expressed a need for CAL on this topic when, at the 2023 WSC, a motion for a new CAL “book consisting of member shares that cover topics such as rediscovering and recovering oneself, identifying one’s likes and needs, and developing intimacy with oneself and other” was approved.
-Recovery Through Using Tools of the Program.
LC Editor thoughts: We do not have CAL specifically on just the tools. However, Part One of our book Working the S-Anon Program, and the book Into the Light under development, do contain quite a few member stories about using the tools.
The most common themes in the comments that the LC Editors believe already covered in some depth in existing CAL or new CAL in development included:
-Avoid / help members understand the concept of outside issues (language, terminology, topics).
The LC Editors believe that this topic is discussed quite extensively in two of our publications, What is the S-Anon Point of View? and S-Anon Twelve Traditions.
-Parenting in Sexaholic Families.
While the LC Editors believe that the specific topic of parenting is an outside issue, we thought that some of the survey comments in this category might relate to applying recovery concepts to parenting and/or relationships with their children rather than to parenting itself. We have a piece in development addressing the topic of practicing recovery principles in relationships with our children that contains member stories offering experience, strength, and hope on this topic.
-Children Affected by Sexual Addiction in the Family.
If this is a request for additional S-Ateen literature, the LC Editors are aware of this need. The S-Ateen Committee is drafting a booklet about the S-Ateen Twelve Steps. It is a challenge to find members who are qualified and willing to write about and from the S-Ateen point of view so developing this literature can be a very slow process. S-Ateen members can find a lot of helpful experience, strength, and hope in our existing literature and complement the contents of S-Ateen and S-Anon literature with Alateen literature.
In addition to suggestions for new CAL, the survey responses also contained feedback about rewriting the literature to make the language more diverse and inclusive. This feedback included using more inclusive language in CAL text that, for example, refers to gender, relationships, and experience of a Higher Power. In our new literature under development, LC Editors are consciously including more balanced references to gender, relationships, and Higher Power. All existing S-Anon literature has been created and approved using the CAL process, and changes to existing CAL (other than basic copy edits or error corrections when publications are reprinted) would need to go through the CAL process again, which is very time-consuming. The Editors believe that our efforts are better spent on creating new literature that is more inclusive rather than rewriting existing CAL.
Many member comments related to issues that the LC Editors believe are not part of the role of the LC or outside issues that do not belong in S-Anon CAL. We include these in our report because we believe it’s important for our fellowship to be aware of these comments per Concept Five: “The Rights of Appeal and Petition protect minorities and assure that they be heard.” Common comment themes that fell into this category include:
-Sex Addiction in Our Children.
S-Anon is a recovery program for those affected by another’s sex addiction. We do not provide recovery literature for those seeking recovery for sex addition regardless of age.
-Telling Your Children.
The decision whether or not to tell your children about sex addiction in the family is a personal choice. S-Anon does not have an opinion or give advice about whether or not to do this. We have a piece in development addressing the topic of practicing recovery principles in relationships with our children that contains member stories offering experience, strength, and hope about whether or how they have shared information about recovery with their children.
-Couples Recovery.
S-Anon is a program of individual recovery from the effects of another’s sex addiction. Couples working on their relationship may find the experience, strength, and hope in our CAL related to applying our recovery to our various relationships helpful. Our new CAL will retain a focus on individual S-Anon recovery.
-Staying Married.
S-Anon does not have an opinion about whether our members should stay married. S-Anon CAL already offers a good amount of experience, strength, and hope about applying our recovery to our various relationships.
-My First Sexaholic.
In S-Anon recovery we focus on ourselves, not the sexaholic. Understanding the circumstances in our lives that lead us to seek recovery can be helpful, but it is not the focus of recovery. Recovery focuses on the solution, not the problem.
-Trauma Issues.
S-Anon is not a trauma treatment program. Members needing specialized help are encouraged to seek the help they need when issues beyond the primary purpose of S-Anon need to be addressed. Many of the tools that members learn in S-Anon can be applied to healing from trauma. In the “Introduction” to S-Anon Twelve Steps, p. xx, this is well stated:
S-Anon does not claim to be all things to all people, and we are grateful for the specialized help available from others. The S-Anon program offers a way of living based on the Twelve Steps that is applicable in all life situations, as well as the support of people who know first-hand what the newcomer is going through because we have been there, too.
-Dual Addiction.
Tradition Five states, in part: “Each S-Anon Family Group has but one purpose: to help families of sexaholics.” S-Anon is a program of individual recovery from the effects of another’s sex addiction. It does not address any other outside addiction or recovery issues.
-Don’t Put S-Anon CAL Over Other CAL. Our SSSM, Part 1. How S-Anon and S-Ateen Groups Work, How Groups are Registered, states:
To guard against the dilution of the S-Anon program (Tradition Four), the group will use S-Anon-published literature as the primary recovery tool. S-Anon literature is written by S-Anon members, addresses the S-Anon “problem” as experienced by the group conscience of S-Anon members, and addresses the S-Anon “solution” as experienced by S-Anon members using the S-Anon Steps, Traditions, and Concepts of Service. We also ask that other S-Anon Conference Approved Literature be used in meetings only as a complement to S-Anon published literature.
The LC does not set policy; our policy is addressed by our S-Anon/S-Ateen Service Manual (SSSM) and other service literature. Service Literature does not fall under the responsibility of the LC; it is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees.
-Group Service Materials.
Group service materials are Service Literature and do not fall under the responsibility of the LC; it is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees. We have made the Board of Trustees aware of these comments about this survey topic.
The LC Editors are grateful that such a large number of our members responded to our survey. Thank you all for your care for and service to our S-Anon fellowship.
