FAQ

The best way to get a sponsor is to attend meetings and find like-minded members who share and are active in the community. As you build connections and get to know other members of our fellowship, natural connections will begin to grow.

From there, it is recommended that you simply ask someone whom you feel would make a good sponsor. Not everyone is in a place where they can take on a sponsee, and they may say no. Do not get discouraged by this. It simply means that the right sponsor for you has not yet been found.

If you have joined the PAA Discord server, you can also look for members with the Open to Sponsor role by using the #sponsorship channel. You can introduce yourself there and tag @ Open to sponsor so available sponsors will be alerted.

A sponsor can take many forms. In PAA, in general terms, a sponsor’s primary goal is to take their sponsee through the 12 Steps.

With that said, a sponsor may also offer encouragement, perspective, and support in other ways. At the time of writing this, there is still a shortage of sponsors in the program. The hope is that more members are able to work through all of the steps and then carry the message by sponsoring others and helping them through the 12 Steps.

There are numerous options available to you as a newcomer to the program. Even if you have not yet found a sponsor, there are still practical actions you can take:

• Find an accountability partner
• Read the SAA Green Book
• Define your Three Circles
• Work the steps on your own
• Attend meetings
• Leverage outreach channels on WhatsApp and Discord

The 3rd Tradition of PAA says:

The only requirement for PAA membership is a desire to stop using pornography in all of its forms.

So if the desire is there, until you find a sponsor, do everything you can to refrain from using pornography.

An accountability partner is typically someone who helps another member stay honest and responsible in their efforts to avoid pornography and related compulsive behaviors.

Some key characteristics of an accountability partner include:

• Mutual support: Both individuals often check in regularly to share progress, challenges, triggers, and victories.
• Not a sponsor: While a sponsor offers more structured guidance through the 12 Steps, an accountability partner is more of an equal, walking alongside rather than leading.
• Honesty and transparency: The relationship is built on open, honest communication, especially about slips, urges, or risky behaviors.
• Boundaries and respect: Healthy accountability involves encouragement, not control. It is not about policing, but about mutual commitment to recovery.