Sobriatea,
San Francisco....you live in LR country! more meetings there than anywhere else in the world. it started right there in SF.
yes, i got sober using the LR forum (very very slow now) daily, going to one meeting per week (it was the only one available here in Vancouver). the "Recovery by Choice" workbook by the founder, Martin Nicholas, was extremely helpful to explore my beliefs, attitudes, fears, habits, support system...all areas covered, really.
there are many online choices, and the e-mail lists sound very active.
there is no LR program as such but lots of support for you to find what works for you. it's an abstinence-based peer support place. no steps, religion is private business, the place is secular. handholding? uh...not that i've encountered, though i did give a couple of people a hug...UGGGHHH
AVRT and LR mesh well together.
hope you'll check it out and find something of use to you.
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