The 12 Steps work. They help me keep the focus on myself. And the fact that the rules of conduct inside the group are said out loud every time, a kind of etiquette, does a great deal for understanding and for the ability to accept one another without moralising or contempt - a good, practical Christian skill. What grows out of it is a healthy way of living. For me, realising that you are not the only one gives the courage to change. Thanks to the emphasis on emotions, I have developed the habit of recognising what I feel in the moment and not reacting out of anger.

Man, 43

I came to this programme wanting to understand myself and to help myself out of a crisis. Having reached the eighth step, I can see deep work and real change. My endless need for control has noticeably eased. There were outbursts at my child, flashes of anger - now they happen less often. I have seen and admitted many qualities and feelings in myself that had been hidden away. I understand other people better. I saw how much dishonesty there was in my life: I could lie automatically, to others and to myself - I am learning to be honest, and it is working. I used to pray rarely and barely felt God; now prayer is one of the ways I talk with God, whom I feel in every day.

Woman, 42

At some point I closed off from many people, stopped understanding and feeling myself, began to lose myself, and realised that I could no longer manage on my own - I did not even understand what was happening to me or what to do about it. In that despair I turned to God for help. At the very first meeting I understood that I was in the right place and would go all the way through. After every meeting there is at least one discovery. I certainly feel and see the changes in my soul. The atmosphere in our space is very trusting, warm and safe.

Woman, 41