There is no progress without innovation. While this perspective has driven a number of industrial and professional scenarios, the concept also holds true within the area of addiction recovery.
The 12-step approach has dominated the field of substance rehabilitation for decades. However, alternative therapeutic programs and interventions have begun to take root, proving to be increasingly beneficial and just as clinically appropriate for those addicts longing to engage in a more personalized clinical experience.
Imagine if people simply stopped evolving or building upon the accomplishments of others. We would not have any of the modern-day conveniences we hold so dear, such as air travel, smartphones, wireless internet, or any of the modern medical advances responsible for saving countless lives over the past decade.
The field of addiction recovery is no different, and the importance of advancement and evolution is essential in order to adequately address and treat the array of problematic behaviors and experiences facing today’s addicts.
Alternatives to 12-Step Recovery
While alternative treatment options to the 12-step recovery approach have gained steam over the past 10 to 15 years, the emergence of personalized clinical treatment within the practice of recovery has reinforced these alternative approaches and empowered treatment providers to continue evolving the clinical practice of addiction therapy.
The most well-known and established alternatives to 12-step recovery include:
- SMART Recovery
A nonprofit organization that cultivates self-empowerment over addiction and addictive behaviors, SMART Recovery is a self-help support group for individuals who wish to remain abstinent from drugs and alcohol and/or other problem behaviors or activities. - Moderation Management
MM is a program designed to target problem drinking early on and invites individuals who see alcohol becoming an issue in their lives to join. MM seeks to change risky drinking habits and problematic behaviors surrounding alcohol abuse by promoting a healthy lifestyle and more responsible habits, and not necessarily through complete abstinence. - Secular Organization for Sobriety (SOS)
As an alternative to 12-Step programs, SOS prides itself on being its own entity and not deriving from another secular or religious program. SOS continues to evolve with new research and does not subscribe to any one theory surrounding addiction. - Women for Sobriety
Based on 13 acceptance statements that focus on positivity, responsibility for oneself, and emotional growth, the Women for Sobriety “New Life” Program helps women to positively change negative thought and behavior patterns in order to establish a healthier and happier life in recovery.
While the components of these alternative treatment options have their own intricacies and components, the concept is the same: individual empowerment.
The main theme of 12-step recovery centers around a higher power and submitting to this entity; alternative treatment highlights the individual power within all of us and how that personal strength can be harnessed to achieve sustained sobriety and happiness.
Specific concepts, like:
- Learning to manage the urges associated with addiction
- Attaining balance within your life through improved personal decision patterns
- Group meetings focused on personal sobriety and individual achievement
- Reinforcing the importance of moderation within every aspect of life
These specific concepts drive home the notion of individual responsibility in relation to the recovery journey and the importance of achieving sobriety for yourself, as opposed to an outside influence or higher being. That’s not to say there is anything wrong with a traditional approach.
But the fact of the matter is that adhering to a strict set of rules and guidelines established over 60 years ago can prove both polarizing and ostracizing. By contrast, alternative treatment approaches implement personalized treatment planning in conjunction with holistic therapeutic interventions, including:
- Mindfulness training
- Improved nutritional concepts
- Implemented physical activities
- Cognitive restructuring
This holistic approach and individualized methodology are aimed at making you feel understood and in charge of the entire treatment process. Empowerment of this nature facilitates long-term success by establishing a foundation of personal achievement and growth through active participation and perpetual engagement spanning the entirety of the program.
Non-12-Step Recovery Groups: What You Need to Know
The primary thing to understand before beginning therapy with a Non-12-step recovery program is that your treatment plan and overall therapeutic experience will be individually tailored to your personal addiction issues.
You will be challenged to communicate openly and honestly with the treatment staff in order to understand the personal experiences that have impacted your addiction and what goals you hope to achieve during and after the treatment process.
Entering into the recovery process with an open mind and a willingness to remain honest with those guiding your journey is imperative to not only successfully completing the program but to attaining long-term sobriety and personal happiness.
Life-Changing Alternative to 12-Step Recovery: Holistic Addiction Treatment at Ranch Creek Recovery
Offering an alternative to the traditional twelve-step program, Ranch Creek Recovery offers a variety of
all-encompassing, holistic in-patient treatment services. Your situation is unique; your treatment must be customized to fit your individual recovery needs.
Learn more about Ranch Creek Recover, including what we offer and what we treat.
Have questions? We’re here to help in any way we can. Contact us today.
