What a Non-12-Step Rehab Can Deliver

Why 12-Step Recovery May Not Be for You

For many people struggling with an addiction, turning to tried and true methods of recovery often seems to make the most sense. After all, relying on the recommendations and knowledge of those who have already achieved sobriety is commonplace when venturing into new and unfamiliar territory.

But following the same strategy as everyone else is not always the most appropriate decision when discussing individual recovery journeys. That’s because each person experiences addiction in their own unique way, dealing with individual addiction triggers and individual needs that require unique and individualized attention.

Imagine if everyone who went out to eat at a restaurant was required to eat at the same place and order the same meal every time. This scenario would totally ignore individual traits like allergies, diet restrictions and personal taste.

While the menu would be easy to produce, the quality of the overall experience would be greatly lacking and leave a majority of people feeling ignored and unsatisfied. This example may seem to trivialize the process of recovery, but it actually highlights the importance of an individualized and personal approach to the therapeutic process.

No two people deal with the disease of addiction in the exact same manner, so no two people are going to want identical recovery experiences.

If you have come to the realization that your addiction is negatively impacting your life and you know you need help to get back on track, taking the time to find a recovery program that best suits your needs is an essential component to achieving sustained success and sobriety.

What is 12-Step Recovery?

The 12-Steps that typify the tenants of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are spiritually based and focused on personal enlightenment, according to a fairly regimented process. The steps are rooted within self-help support groups in the community, where participants submit to a higher power and identify their past mistakes in front of the other attendees.

The actual 12-Steps date back to the 1930’s when they were first introduced by AA and have grown significantly since that time.

Today, AA and the 12-Step approach is an instrumental component to a number of treatment programs around the world, encouraging participants to admit powerlessness over their addictive behaviors while turning to God to provide strength and direction throughout their recovery journey.

Reasons Why a 12-Step Recovery May Not Be for You

The idea of a 12-Step program appeals to a lot of recovering addicts because it provides them with structure and routine, both of which they may have been lacking.

However, the strong ties to a specific theological construct and the requirement to follow a specific course of action in order to progress along the path of recovery may be a bit much for some people processing their recovery.

Additionally, addicts must find a sponsor in most 12-step programs, and these sponsors are typically recovering addicts themselves. Therefore, this specific recovery approach may not appeal to some people.

However, there are a number of individuals that prefer flexibility throughout their recovery journey and who feel much more comfortable engaging with clinically trained treatment staff while engaging in rehab.

This is not to say that 12-Step recovery is a bad approach in recovery, it is simply stating the fact that its strict approach does not appeal to everyone beginning their recovery journey.

What is Non-12-Step Treatment?

While traditional 12-Step recovery programs focus on the addiction itself, non-12-step treatment takes the whole picture into account, incorporating a person’s personal history, mental health, physical well-being and social connectivity as a means of constructing an individualized and unique treatment plan to help them achieve and maintain their sobriety.

This ability to effectively address both substance use disorders and mental health issues simultaneously set non-12-step programs apart and make them more appropriate for individuals looking to improve multiple areas of their life while in recovery.

What a Non-12-Step Rehab Can Deliver

Non-12-step programs offer an integrated approach to the therapeutic process, incorporating a variety of treatment methods and interventions in order to help people achieve long-term sobriety and personal success.

These alternative and clinically advanced techniques focus on the individual and what they need in order to get the most out of their treatment experience. Some of these treatment approaches include:

• Mindfulness training
• Individual counseling
• Meditation and yoga
• Dietary and nutritional courses

These alternative treatment techniques enable people to explore a variety of proven clinical methods while addressing their addictive impulses and repairing their physical health. The idea that your recovery hinges on more than stopping your substance use, but also healing yourself from the inside out is instrumental to non-12-step programs.

After all, achieving long-term health and happiness does not only mean you get sober and stop using substances. It also means you address the destructive habits and impulsive decisions that first led to your addiction, so you can avoid making those same mistakes in the future and truly achieve a life worth living.

Life-Changing Alternative to 12-Step Recovery: Holistic Addiction Treatment at Ranch Creek

all-encompassing, holistic in-patient treatment services. Your situation is unique. So your treatment should be customized to fit your individual recovery needs.


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