12 Step Facilitation Therapy for Solid Sobriety

Get Guidance on the Path to Long Term Recovery at Changes

12-step facilitation therapy is one of the most well-known tools for people who are entering addiction treatment with serious intent to get sober. Changes Healing Center offers this type of treatment during residential programs because of its efficacy in treating drug and alcohol addiction.

What do you stand to gain from attending regular meetings of a 12-step program?

The Twelve Steps originally used in Alcoholics Anonymous are now adapted to many behavioral health issues. They offer anonymous support and community for those struggling along with a framework for spiritual awakening. Abstinence years later is much greater when attending these programs.

Changes Healing Center believes in offering the most robust drug and alcohol treatment which is why we implement the 12-step program facilitation therapies for our clients. Keep reading to learn more about how these steps allow you to stick to the best abstinence practices.

Are the 12 Steps Effective at Treating Addiction?

There is some debate over whether the Twelve-Step model is effective for treating substance abuse compared to other clinical intervention models like CBT and DBT. Part of the issue is that these groups rely heavily on anonymity which means tracking individual progress is difficult.

However, that’s not to say that there’s no data for involvement in these treatment programs. One study looked at self-reported information from people who attend AA meetings, as well as NA, and CA (Cocaine Anonymous) groups. Researchers found that people attended an average of two to four meetings each week with impressive sobriety statistics.

The median length of abstinence from alcohol and drug addiction was greater than five years which should demonstrate just how effective these programs are. People who participate in AA for 27 months or more have better outcomes 16 years later.

That should be proof enough that Twelve-Step facilitation therapy belongs as part of our treatment programs at Changes Healing Center, and research continues to validate the efficacy of 12-step-based approaches.

Community Resources for Help with Sober Living

One of the main tenets of AA meetings is that the group is stronger than the individual members. While there is certainly something to be gained from individual counseling, there is also something to be said of this type of community-based support.

This can be great for your discharge from our rehab center because you won’t lose touch with the basics of sober living. You’ll still have the camaraderie of being around others who understand the intense struggle of addiction, all on a schedule that works for your routines. Plus, there is no cost to these open 12-step meetings.

No matter where you live, you’ll be able to find a meeting in your local area. This also helps to provide the time needed to complete the 12 steps, as this takes place on your own schedule and is not always completed during your stay at Changes.

Offering Help for Family Members with Twelve-Step Facilitation

When you struggle with drug or alcohol dependence, it doesn’t impact your life in a vacuum. It reaches out and damages your relationships with close friends and loved ones as well. In addition to our Twelve-Step facilitation for drug and alcohol abuse, your family members might want to attend a meeting too.

Al-Anon and Alateen implement the same model espoused by Alcoholics Anonymous. The people who attend will work through the same steps, starting with admitting their powerlessness and turning over the situation to a higher power.

It’s a way to stay actively involved and to cope with the stressors of having a loved one in treatment. Everyone who attends these meetings understands what it’s like to have a friend or family member in active addiction, along with the ups and downs of treatment.

No Cookie Cutter Approaches to the 12 Steps

Another important point to note is that there are no one-size-fits-all approaches to step facilitation. You may move in and out of the various steps at different points in your recovery process. While you might initially think that you have mastered an earlier step, you may need to circle back to it at a later date.

More than that, there are multiple types of 12-step meetings ranging from speaker meetings where you can hear the inspiring stories of people like you to discussion meetings where you can interact with and share your struggles.

Maintaining abstinence through such programs is easier than navigating the waters on your own. Find a meeting style, location, and time that works for you after your discharge from our residential program.

Is 12-Step Therapy the Right Model For Everyone?

Most people are familiar with the 12-step method with popular programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). These are programs based all over the world and have had high success rates in helping people struggling with substance misuse.

However, this model isn’t limited to alcoholics or addicts alone. While they can certainly be helpful in these applications, people recovering from any hurt or hang-up can benefit from the steps. 

The Twelve Steps act as a model for spiritual awakening, even if you don’t believe in God. Thousands of people have undergone step work as a means of putting aside thoughts and behaviors that no longer serve them, enabling them to embrace of a new way of life.

Aside from Twelve Step facilitation, Changes also offers Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and more traditional CBT and DBT approaches.

Objections to the Spiritual Aspects of the 12-Step Program

One of the primary objections to 12-step facilitation is the need to turn control over to a higher power. These programs do refer to spirituality but don’t require a belief in God. Instead, the idea is simply that participants acknowledge that they are not all-powerful. Your higher power can be anything that is not directly within your control.

Your sobriety results in internal changes that can’t be seen by the outside world apart from their effects on daily living. However, it’s important to note that change can rarely be done alone. This is where your concept of a higher power comes into the picture.

You’ll need the support of those who have gone through similar experiences and emotions. A higher power greater than your individual experiences can help you connect to the world around you and facilitate deeper connections to others who are on the same journey to recovery.

No matter your concept of spirituality in recovery, our morning journal prompts can help you frame each day with an attitude of appreciation and gratitude for the changes happening in your life.

Alcoholics Anonymous and 12 Steps with Other Programs

A Twelve-Step facilitation program may be a great starting point for someone who is entering addiction treatment for the first time. These are often community-based programs where anyone who wants help can seek support. They’re also a part of our treatment program, alongside CBT, DBT, MET, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and other evidence-based approaches used by our clinical team at Changes Healing Center.

We firmly believe in facilitating a robust and comprehensive set of treatment services as you work your way through the program.

Our experienced clinicians leverage the best parts of cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy, among others. You’ll get a comprehensive treatment plan that makes the most of our team’s expertise in treating your unique mental health or drug abuse struggle.

Seek Substance Abuse Treatment Services at Changes Healing Center

When you’re ready to enter addiction treatment for your substance use disorder, it’s worthwhile to find a center that believes in evidence-based treatment programs. Changes Healing Center helps with 12-step facilitation therapy alongside other treatments like CBT and DBT, ACT, and Motivational Enhancement Therapy.

At Changes, you get a completely customized treatment program to meet your needs.

Our enrollment team is ready and waiting to answer your questions about getting help for substance misuse. Reach out to us today to learn more about our program and extremely effective methods!

References

1. Donovan, D. M., Ingalsbe, M. H., Benbow, J., & Daley, D. C. (2013). 12-step interventions and mutual support programs for substance use disorders: an overview. Social work in public health, 28(3-4), 313–332.
2. Moos, R. H., & Moos, B. S. (2006). Participation in treatment and Alcoholics Anonymous: a 16-year follow-up of initially untreated individuals. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62(6), 735–750.