Beauterre
Are the Twelve Steps the only way someone can recover from addiction? No
Have people found recovery without the use of the Twelve Steps? Yes
Not everyone experiences substance use disorder the same way and not everyone finds recovery the same way. Some people have an issue with surrendering to a “higher power” because they’re not sure there is a higher power – however they define it. That’s okay. Because there are other ways to find recovery that don’t involve the Twelve Steps.
Alternatives to the Twelve Steps
Addiction is an isolating disease. While Twelve Step programs undeniably help many addicts, other options do exist for those who feel they do not fit in. The goal for addicts is ultimately to find a life free of addiction, no matter the route taken to get there.” – Psychcentral
Whatever the struggle, Beauterre is carefully attuned to each patient’s needs and this also means the path they take to recovery. If Twelve Steps isn’t the right option, we offer other options that might tailor better to a patient’s own hopes and willingness for recovery.
If nothing else, we know that people have better treatment outcomes when they’re offered choices and not coerced to accept one thing or another.” – Anne Fletcher
Patients have a voice in the type of road they want to go on and we honor that desire.
So what alternative approaches are there besides Twelve Steps?
- Health Realization Therapy
Health Realization Therapy focuses on the nature of thought and how it affects one’s experience of the world. Patients are taught that they can change how they react to their circumstances by becoming aware that they are creating their own experience as they respond to their thoughts.
- Smart Recovery
SMART stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training. It’s a transformative method of moving from addictive substances and negative behaviors to a life of positive self-regard and willingness to change.
- Moral Reconation Therapy
Moral reconation therapy is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy that promotes moral reasoning, better decision making and appropriate behavioral changes. It aims to change faulty thought processes that have led to poor decision-making and substance abuse.
And those are just a few options. Other evidence-based therapies can and do work. Examples include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed therapy, and so much more. These evidence-based therapies are often used together – based on your needs. So yes, you can find recovery without the use of the Twelve Steps.