12-Step Recovery for Addiction
At Able To Change Recovery, our clients find renewed hope and healing from addiction through the transformative power of 12-step recovery. This time-tested approach is a cornerstone of our comprehensive substance abuse treatment program, giving people the tools they need to rebuild their lives.
Within our supportive community, participants work through the 12 steps in group and individual sessions, discovering new strengths within themselves through the power of shared experiences. Our 12-Step Recovery program offers a path to lasting sobriety, emotional healing, and a renewed sense of purpose – all within a compassionate, family-like environment.
What is 12-Step Recovery?
12-step recovery is a comprehensive approach to addiction treatment designed for people struggling with substance abuse disorders.[1] Participants engage in regular meetings, which can occur daily or weekly, depending on their stage in recovery.[2] These sessions usually take place in treatment centers and other community spaces that offer privacy and a supportive atmosphere. The program often involves a multidisciplinary team of professionals, including licensed addiction counselors, therapists, social workers, and others.
At Able To Change Recovery, the 12-step recovery program is integrated into a holistic treatment approach that emphasizes personal growth, accountability, and community support. Their method combines traditional 12-step principles with evidence-based therapeutic practices, modifying the program to meet each person’s unique needs and circumstances.
We’re committed to providing a family-like environment where participants can feel safe, supported, and motivated throughout their recovery journey, emphasizing the importance of peer support and shared experiences in achieving lasting sobriety from drug and alcohol use.
How (and Why) 12-Step Recovery Works
The 12-step model of recovery has been a core component of addiction treatment for decades, helping countless people to achieve and maintain sobriety in support groups.[3] Its effectiveness lies in its comprehensive approach to addressing addiction-related issues, combining personal accountability, spiritual growth, and community support.
General principles of 12-step therapy for addiction (and the twelve steps) include:[4]
- Admission and surrender: The first step involves acknowledging the problem and admitting powerlessness over addiction. This crucial step breaks through denial and opens the door to change.
- A spiritual connection: While not tied to any specific religion, the program encourages individuals to connect with a higher power of their understanding, fostering hope and strength beyond oneself.
- Making a personal inventory and making amends: Participants engage in thorough self-examination, identifying patterns of behavior and making amends for past wrongs. This process promotes self-awareness and the healing of relationships.
- Ongoing personal growth: The steps encourage continuous self-improvement and spiritual growth, helping individuals develop healthier coping mechanisms and life skills.
- Providing service and support: Helping others in recovery becomes a vital part of maintaining one’s own sobriety, creating a cycle of support within the community.
Our treatment methodology incorporates the 12-step model into a comprehensive treatment plan, enhancing its effectiveness through several key approaches to addiction recovery:
- Personalized integration: Our 12-step groups are unique to each individual’s needs and beliefs. Counselors work closely with clients to interpret and apply the steps in a way that resonates with their personal experiences and values.
- Professional guidance: Experienced addiction specialists and therapists guide participants through each step, providing clinical insights and support. This professional oversight ensures that the 12-step work is complemented by evidence-based therapeutic practices.
- A truly holistic approach: The 12-step work is integrated with other treatment modalities such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, trauma-informed care, and holistic wellness practices, addressing the full spectrum of an individual’s needs.
- Continuous support: Able To Change Recovery provides ongoing support beyond the initial treatment phase, including aftercare programs, alumni groups, and resources for maintaining long-term recovery aligned with 12-step principles.
The Efficacy of 12-Step Recovery
Recent empirical studies have corroborated the clinical effectiveness of 12-step approaches in addiction treatment. Reviews of this literature have noted that participation in groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is associated with a greater likelihood of abstinence, improved functioning, and greater levels of self-efficacy.[5] Beginning 12-step participation while in treatment, especially at group meetings held at the treatment program, and attending 12-step meetings concurrently with specialty treatment is associated with better outcomes. Consistent, early, and frequent attendance has been linked to better substance use outcomes.
A comprehensive evaluation of 35 studies involving the work of 145 scientists and the outcomes of 10,080 participants also found AA to be more effective than psychotherapy in achieving abstinence in most cases.[6] Additionally, most studies showed that AA participation lowered healthcare costs. 12-step facilitation interventions produce similar benefits to other treatments on all drinking-related outcomes, except for continuous abstinence and remission, where 12-step methods were found to be superior.[7]
What to Expect from 12-Step Recovery
The program involves working through the 12 steps, which include tasks such as taking a personal inventory, making amends for past wrongs, and developing a spiritual practice. This process can be emotionally challenging but is designed to promote self-reflection, personal growth, and healing.
In addition to group meetings and step work, individuals may participate in individual counseling sessions with trained therapists or addiction specialists as well. These sessions provide an opportunity to address underlying issues contributing to addiction and develop coping strategies for recovering from alcohol use disorder and other substance use disorders.
Throughout the process, participants can expect to develop new coping skills, build a support network, and gradually work towards rebuilding various aspects of their lives, including relationships, careers, and personal interests.
12-Step Recovery at Able To Change Recovery
12-step recovery is more than just a program – it's a place to find a caring community that’s dedicated to your success and well-being. Our approach integrates the time-tested principles of 12-step work with cutting-edge therapeutic practices, offering a comprehensive path to lasting recovery from drug addiction for you or a loved one.
If you’re willing, then we’re able to help. Contact us today to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
About 12-Step Recovery
No, you do not have to be religious to participate in the 12-step program. The program is inclusive and open to people of all spiritual beliefs (or none at all). The concept of a higher power can be understood in a personal and flexible way, unique to each person’s own beliefs or values.
A sponsor in the 12-step program for drug abuse is someone with experience in recovery who provides guidance and support to newer members. Sponsors help by sharing their personal experiences, offering practical advice, and serving as a source of encouragement and accountability throughout the recovery journey.
During a 12-step meeting for anxiety, addiction, or other concerns, participants share their personal experiences with addiction and recovery and discuss the principles of the program. Meetings typically include group discussions, readings from program literature, and an opportunity for members to speak and offer mutual encouragement.
[1] Nowinski, J., Stuart Baker, M., Carroll, C., & Mattson, M. (n.d.). National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Project MATCH Monograph Series Volume 1 TWELVE STEP FACILITATION THERAPY MANUAL A Clinical Research Guide for Therapists Treating Individuals With Alcohol Abuse and Dependence. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/sites/default/files/match01.pdf on September 5, 2024
[2] APA PsycNet. (2024). Apa.org. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2012-07981-008 on September 5, 2024
[3] Kaskutas, L. A. (2009). Alcoholics Anonymous Effectiveness: Faith Meets Science. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 28(2), 145–157. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2746426/ on September 5, 2024
[4] Alcoholics Anonymous. (2023). The Twelve Steps. Www.aa.org. https://www.aa.org/the-twelve-steps on September 5, 2024
[5] Donovan, D. M., Ingalsbe, M. H., Benbow, J., & Daley, D. C. (2013). 12-Step Interventions and mutual support programs for substance use disorders: an overview. Social Work in Public Health, 28(3-4), 313–332. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3753023/ on September 5, 2024
[6] Erickson, M. (2020, March 11). Alcoholics Anonymous most effective path to alcohol abstinence. Stanford Medicine News Center; Stanford Medicine. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2020/03/alcoholics-anonymous-most-effective-path-to-alcohol-abstinence.html on September 5, 2024
[7] Kelly, J. F., Abry, A., Ferri, M., & Humphreys, K. (2020). Alcoholics Anonymous and 12-Step Facilitation Treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Distillation of a 2020 Cochrane Review for Clinicians and Policy Makers. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 55(6), 641–651. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8060988/ on September 5, 2024