I never had a patient harmed by a Recovery meeting. Even seriously mentally ill people may benefit from Recovery training. At the worst, the patient simply will not be able to identify with the group and will stop going. Even in these instances, the brief contact with others who have accepted their own need for help, may make the patient more willing to cooperate with professional care. Professionals are trained in all procedures used in treatment.
Recovery is a powerful resource.
As such, it can be best used when the professional has experienced meetings, and is aware of the basic program structure. For me, my most effective personal learning about Recovery came when I accompanied a newcomer to a meeting. Please press the BACK button on your browser.