Steps to Recovery™ Program

Steps to Recovery^™ is a 12 step based treatment program. The 12 steps were inspired by a Christian movement called the Oxford Group. One of the guiding principles of the program is that the individual needs the help of a higher power in order to defeat their addiction. Coming into existence during the late 1930s, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the first 12 step group and today, more than 90 percent of addiction treatment in the US is AA based. AA attracted a lot of positive media attention, and this helped it grow rapidly. Soon other 12 step groups were developed to deal with problems other than alcoholism, for example, Narcotics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous.

The aim of the 12 steps is not just to help the individual escape addiction, but to allow them to build a satisfying life in recovery. Addiction is only actually mentioned in the first step, and the rest of the steps are devoted to self-improvement. The individual is asked to willingly develop a new more spiritual way of living; a path that involves humility and an acceptance of whatever happens in life. Members are asked to become more conscious of their higher power and to allow this to guide their life. They are also asked to develop a willingness to make amends for any wrongs they have done in the past. The ultimate aim of the 12 steps is for members to experience a spiritual awakening. Talk of a spiritual experience can conjure esoteric images, but the meaning here is more subtle. It can happen slowly over many years and simply implies that the individual has been able to break away from addiction and rebuild their lives.

Although the program was inspired by Christians it aims to be non-denominational. The member is encouraged to believe in a higher power as they understand this concept. Even those who are uncomfortable with talk of God can choose the energy of the group as their higher power. The only requirement is that the member believes that there is something out there more powerful than them, and that this can help them beat their addiction. Vital components of 12 step programs are regular attendance at group meetings and sponsoring. The benefits of 12 step programs include:

• A new improved way of looking at life.
• No regret about the past.
• No more fear of people, places and things.
• No more financial worries.
• Less selfishness and self-seeking.
• Happiness.
• An end to self-pity.
• Intuitive knowledge for how to handle every situation.
• An end to feelings of uselessness and the ability to help others.
• Serenity.

While Steps to Recovery^™ is a 12 step based treatment program, there are several factors that differentiate this program for traditional 12 step and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) treatment philosophies:

• Steps to Recovery^™ teach and support 12 step meetings, written work and philosophies.  
• Steps to Recovery^™ focuses on biological, psychological, social, and spiritual healing.
• Steps to Recovery^™ have a variable length of stay between 30 - 90 days, which is consistent with our personalized approach to addiction treatment and recovery.
• Steps to Recovery^™ offer treatment for the substance abuser who has not crossed the line into addiction and dependence.
• Steps to Recovery^™ offer specialized treatment for those addicted to prescription medications.
• Steps to Recovery^™ include psychological and psychiatric evaluations.
• Steps to Recovery^™ include a nicotine cessation treatment option.
• Steps to Recovery^™ can treat process addictions such as gambling, sexual promiscuity, over eating, etc.
• Steps to Recovery^™ offer a family therapy component.
• Steps to Recovery^™ offers a specialized professionals program targeted at treating physicians, attorneys and other high-level/high-profile business people and executives.

 

Program components include counseling, group therapy, art therapy, group communication, group exercise, group sports, journaling, massage, meditation, personal training, relapse awareness, stress management, tai chi, Thai boxing, water workouts, and yoga.