First, read Chapter 7, and notice closely the instructions there and then take some notes as you read.
As you're reading that (Chapter 7)... you'll want her to start reading on the very front cover of her Big Book. Be sure she reads "every single page." You'll be asking her some questions regarding to what she has read.
After you read Chapter 7, and you take notes there of what you'll be doing with her... then, you'll need to start reading from the front cover of the BB, up to page 103.
The information for :
Step 1, is The Dr.'s Opinion, Chapter 1,2, and 3. However, when you walk her through the Steps, you'll be starting on the Front Cover, and then talking to her about the information on the Title page, the Forward to the First Edition, and the Preface (to which ever version of BB you'll be using... I normally use the 3rd Edition). Then, you'll go through the Dr.'s Opinion (together, talking about the things in there that deal with Step 1).
Look on page 30, paragraph 2 : "We learned... that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery."
"We" = the two of you. "learned"... is what you'll both be doing. (Funny how it works that way... I learn something each time I take a new person through the Steps. This is why it gets so exciting for me when I get the opportunity. "More gets revealed." ).
To "fully concede" to anything... we usually need to know something about it. Since we are dealing with "alcoholism"... something that we could die from... it's good to know as much about it as we can.
In the Dr.'s Opinion and in Chapter 3, it covers "types" of alcoholics. And, it distinquishes between the "hard-drinker", "problem drinker", and the "real alcoholic."
Bill tells us in the 12 & 12, that the only Step we need to be so concerned with as to totally and completely taking it... is the First Step. The entire process of Steps 2-12, will depend on how well someone has done their First Step.
You're #1 job, in helping her with Step 1, is to help her understand the difference between the problem drinker... and the real alcoholic.
The problem drinker can usually stop drinking without AA, without 12 Steps, and without a spiritual solution. And, often, the alcoholic can stop drinking too.... but, the alcoholic can not stay stopped.
(Page 44, Chapter 4 "We agnostics"). Now... if their is a "problem drinker" reading this... feeling a sigh of relief... don't sigh too soon!
Many of us were alcoholic long before we ever thought so!!!!!
When I first came to AA, I thought I had a "drinking problem." I thought I had an "alcohol problem." ... After I failed AA, and got drunk again, my sponsor helped me learn that my problem is not alcohol.... my problem is alcohol-ism.
If my problem was simply alcohol... all I need to do is stop drinking it and my life would get better.
As an alcoholic... when I stopped drinking.... my life got worse. Alcohol was my "solution"... not my problem. Without my solution... I had a major problem... and that was my untreated alcoholism.
There is only two ways to treat my alcoholism... 1. By drinking. Or, 2. With the 12 Steps. Someone else may have another way... but, those are the only two ways that have ever worked for me.... Drinking... or the 12 Steps.
I know that some alcoholics have stopped drinking other ways... like go to church, get struck by lightening... fall in love, or out of love... or whatever... I can only speak for me.
Dallas
P.S. A little note added here
What I wrote above... is how I do it. It may not be the best way to do it in your unique situation. Whatever you have been doing is obviously working well for you.
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