Navigating Life's Seas with Anchor
06 Feb 2024
Anchor is Thorne Harbour’s newest support group for gay, bi+, and queer men (cis and trans inclusive) who want to change, control, or stop their alcohol use.
We sat down with Anchor facilitators George and Lewis to ask them some of the most common questions people have about the group.
Making changes to your drinking could be an empowering step for you to take control of your life.
Why do we need a space like Anchor exclusively for gay, bi+ and queer men?
Whilst our relationship with alcohol can be extremely personal and intimate - gay, bi+ and queer men may share similar drinking experiences through being part of community. That’s why we designed Anchor as a queer safe space - to bring people together for honest conversations, foster understanding, and assist in creating change in a non-judgmental environment
How do I know if my alcohol use needs to change or stop?
When you feel like you have less agency around your drinking, and it feels like alcohol is the bigger decision-maker than you are, it may be an indicator that your drinking isn’t where you want it to be. Making changes to your drinking could be an empowering step for you to take control of your life. If someone who cares about you has expressed concern about the impact of your drinking, it might also be worth considering changes
What activities will we do in the group?
We’ll do a range of activities like making relapse prevention plans, learning the difference between triggers and urges, and practicing mindfulness. These will help group members to understand their relationship to alcohol and develop practical strategies to make the changes they would like.
Do I have to come to every session?
Anchor starts on Thursday 10 October and runs for eight weeks at Thorne Harbour Health in Abbotsford, Melbourne. We encourage group members to attend every session, particularly the first few as the group forms. If some sessions are missed later in the program, that’s okay – we want to be as flexible as possible.
How can I sign up? Do I need to be assessed by someone before I join?
If you’re interested, please call our intake team on (03) 9865 6700 (Monday - Friday, 9am – 5pm) and ask to speak to Lewis or George about the Anchor group. Unless you have completed an assessment with us recently, we will need to do a brief assessment to ensure that Anchor is the right fit for you.