Who started Co-Dependents Anonymous?

Ken and Mary Richardson
Co-Dependents Anonymous was founded by Ken and Mary Richardson and the first CoDA meeting attended by 30 people was held October 22, 1986 in Phoenix, Arizona. Within four weeks there were 100 people and before the year was up there were 120 groups.

What are codependency meetings?

Co-Dependents Anonymous is a Fellowship of men and women whose common purpose is to develop healthy relationships. The only requirement for membership is a desire for healthy and loving relationships. We gather together to support and share with each other in a journey of self-discovery — learning to love the self.

What is CoDA therapy?

CoDA is a fellowship of people who seek healthy relationships. CoDA therapy relies upon a set of 12 steps for recovery. They help members to develop positive relationships with themselves and others. Members are encouraged to build a relationship with a higher power, which does not have to be God.

What are the signs of codependency?

Signs of codependency include:

• Difficulty making decisions in a relationship.
• Difficulty identifying your feelings.
• Difficulty communicating in a relationship.
• Valuing the approval of others more than valuing yourself.
• Lacking trust in yourself and having poor self-esteem.

What is the best therapy for codependency?

While some individuals may be able to break out of patterns of codependent behavior on their own, often it requires professional treatment. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps individuals focus on understanding behaviors and changing reactions.

How do you break codependent behavior?

Some healthy steps to healing your relationship from codependency include:

1. Start being honest with yourself and your partner.
2. Stop negative thinking.
3. Don’t take things personally.
4. Take breaks.
5. Consider counseling.
6. Rely on peer support.
7. Establish boundaries.

Is codependency a learned behavior?

Co-dependency is a learned behavior that can be passed down from one generation to another. It is an emotional and behavioral condition that affects an individual’s ability to have a healthy, mutually satisfying relationship.

What mental illness causes codependency?

As early as 1986, mental health experts argued that codependency should be an officially recognized mental health condition with qualifying diagnostic criteria borrowed from other disorders, including dependent personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, and even post- …

Where can I find information on Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA)?

If you are new to Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA), please visit our International Newcomers page for information on co-dependency and the recovery available through this program. There you will also find information useful in determining if you suffer from co-dependency.

What are the different types of codependency meetings?

These types include: Speaker meetings take place with one person sharing experiences regarding the dependency. This person may or may not have completed the codependency program and have recovered to the point of going to meetings only to help others. Open share meetings are the most common.

What are the personality patterns of codependency?

Instead of telling you that you are a codependent, CoDA has a list of personality patterns found in people who have the addiction. There are different patterns of the various ways codependency can affect you, including the following: Denial patterns. Low self-esteem patterns. Compliance patterns. Control patterns.

How do you know if you have a codependent addiction?

People with a codependent addiction do not realize how they are harming themselves and quite possibly the person they are dependent upon. 2 They may view your attempt to help as jealousy of what they have and turn away from you entirely. It will be up to you to keep trying to help without pushing them away.