Addiction treatment has gone through many changes over the years, most of which have been for the best. However, the 12 step program – one of the first care methods created – is still around. As a result, you may be wondering how a 12 step program helps recovery and whether this care option is right for you. That fact all depends on many factors that may be outside of your control in many cases.
What is the 12 Step Program?
In 1938, the founders of the first Alcoholics Anonymous Group wrote the 12-step philosophy. These steps in the Big Book were designed to help manage crises and steer a person through the challenges of recovery. Each “step” in the program is designed to help a person come to grips with their addiction and guide them through care for this issue. A few of these steps include:
- Admitting that you are powerless over your addiction
- Knowing that a Power higher than yourself may help you overcome addiction
- Turning your life over to this Power to ensure your recovery
- Creating a list of people whom you have harmed and making amends to them
- Awakening spiritually to enhance your lifelong treatment
As you can see, spirituality and a belief in the Christian God were critical to the 12 steps. However, secular variations of the 12 step method have been created over the years, including the Minnesota Model. But the methodology of moving through various steps remains the same, which is a big part of how a 12 step program helps recovery.
How a 12 Step Program Helps Recovery
The 12 step program model remains a useful way to structure many types of drug recoveries. And even though many addiction treatment programs have expanded upon this theory over the years, they often structure their care in the same way. Getting people to admit that they have a problem is almost always the first step, here, as is looking for help from experts who understand your care. Beyond that, 12 step programs also:
- Help people awaken to the power that they have for self-change
- Force them to take control over their lives again
- Open up a person to making up with loved ones in their life
- Enhance personal understanding over their addiction in many ways
- Create a more reliable spiritual connection, should they desire one
These benefits are all part of how a 12 step program helps recovery but are not without some drawbacks. For example, some individuals do not like the focus on spirituality common in many 12 step programs. Others struggle to stick to the scheduled pattern of steps, though they can be tackled in any order. As a result, some may need to try out these steps in a less structured addiction therapy program.
Finding a Rehab That Offers 12 Step Care
Although the 12 step therapy program is the oldest still-used treatment option, many rehab centers still utilize it for their clients. That’s because it still works for many people. As a result, you shouldn’t have a hard time finding a care facility that offers this treatment for your needs. Before you do, though, you need to carefully research the options that they provide to ensure that you get the best results for your needs. Start by making sure that a rehab accepts your insurance provider. In this way, you can pay a fraction of the cost you’d pay without insurance. Then, check into what 12 step method the rehab uses. Some focus very heavily on the spiritual element, while others are more secular. Choose the method that seems the best for your needs and seek out other care options, such as detox, dual-diagnosis, and inpatient care methods.
We Can Help You Find the Power to Succeed
If you want to know more about how a 12 step program helps recovery, please contact The Ranch right away to get help. Our specialized care programs can walk you through the challenge of substance abuse and back onto the road of sobriety. Call us at 1.844.876.7680 today to set up your visit. You will be glad that you took your recovery into your hands.
