What is Crosstalk?

In our meetings, we speak about our own experience, and we listen without comment to what others share. We work toward taking responsibility for our own lives, rather than giving advice to others. This is why crosstalk is strongly discouraged during our meetings. Crosstalk guidelines help keep our meetings a safe place. For more information, please refer to the Newcomer’s Handbook (CoDA Book).

Examples of crosstalk may include, but are not limited to:

·         Giving unsolicited feedback
·         Advising
·         Answering
·         Making "you" and "we" statements
·         Interrogating
·         Debating
·         Criticizing
·         Controlling
·         Dominating
·         Minimizing another person’s feeling or experiences
·         Physical contact / touch (applies to face-to-face meetings)
·         Body movements such as nodding one’s head or other gestures (applies to face-to-face meetings)
·         Making sounds / noises
·         Referring to someone present by name