kathy ireland® Recovery Centers

12-Step Facilitation

12-Step facilitation therapy (TSF) is an option we offer at our kathy ireland® Recovery Centers locations. TSF prepares you to take advantage of support groups available in your local community once you complete your rehabilitation program. The 12-Step philosophy gives a structured outline for recovery that many people find helpful. The journal Social Work in Public Health published research indicating that peer support groups “including Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA) and a number of others, have served as the primary, if not only, source of behavior change for many, as adjuncts to formal treatment, or as a form of continuing care and community support following treatment.”

We believe most people find value in the guidelines and fellowship inherent in 12-Step groups. After transitioning out of our care, you might find yourself needing help staying motivated and maintaining self-accountability from day to day. A support group is an excellent way to find inspiration and encouragement.

How 12-Step Facilitation Benefits You

The previously mentioned study published in Social Work in Public Health reported that “despite the benefit that can be derived from attending meetings and engaging in 12-Step activities, many individuals with SUDs are reluctant to do so.” A wide variety of barriers exist that stop people from taking advantage of the 12-Step groups. Some of the most common include:

  • Lack of motivation and ambivalence about getting help with recovery
  • Ideological, spiritual, or religious concerns about the 12-Step philosophy
  • Feeling uncertain about dedicating time and energy to a new group
  • Social stigmas
  • Privacy concerns

12-Step groups have been helping people become and remain sober since the mid-1930s and there are many benefits to joining one of these groups. Research supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs stated that “individuals with SUDs who participate in 12-step SHGs [self-help groups] tend to experience better alcohol and drug use outcomes than do individuals who do not participate in these groups.” You can choose to overcome barriers. Your mental, physical, and emotional health are essential to your long-term sobriety, and you deserve to put them first. Advantages of 12-Step groups include:

  • Peer support
  • A safe space to grow and express yourself
  • Access to additional resources
  • New healthy relationships
  • Social connections with people who understand recovery
  • Accountability and an environment that encourages self-accountability

Do I Need to Be Religious to Join a 12-Step Group?

Anyone seeking sobriety can attend a 12-Step meeting. There are also groups that exist to support friends and family members of individuals with substance use disorder. The language of the programs is inclusive and meant to apply to anyone seeking sobriety. You do not have to be religious, although a form of faith in a higher power–regardless of the form that takes for you–helps with following the various Steps. The only pre-requisite is that you want help with addiction.
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What to Expect From a 12-Step Fellowship

Every group follows a similar format and shares core beliefs, but there are still differences between the various 12-Step groups. You can rely on others at meetings to help you navigate the challenges of everyday life in recovery. At kathy ireland® Recovery Centers, we believe that joining a fellowship significantly lowers your risk of relapse or returning to unwanted behaviors. After leaving one of our treatment programs, who you surround yourself with can mean the difference between backsliding into old habits or succeeding at building a life of long-term sobriety. TSF will show you ways that you can use a 12-Step group to empower yourself. A few things that you can expect from a 12-Step group include:

  • Access to peer support in the form of mentorships and sponsorships
  • Assistance with accountability within the 12-Step community
  • A safe space where you can feel confident voicing your thoughts and feelings

A study published in the Journal of Addictive Diseases reports about “TSF/Intensive referral conditions having a 5-10% advantage in abstinence rates.” You may feel uncertain about joining a group of strangers and spending your free time attending group meetings and events, but the research shows that the benefits are staggering.

Evidence-Based Self-Help Groups

Research indicates that individuals who regularly attend 12-Step programs throughout their recovery have a higher likelihood of achieving long-term sobriety and lower risks associated with substance use disorder (SUD) and related mental health conditions. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reported that 12-Step “groups can be particularly helpful during recovery, offering an added layer of community-level social support to help people achieve and maintain abstinence and other healthy lifestyle behaviors over the course of a lifetime.”

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Learning to Accept Help

One of the most challenging parts of recovery is accepting that sometimes you need to reach out and ask for help to move forward. A healthy support system, peer groups, and encouraging family members all provide support while giving you space to grow. You deserve support, and at kathy ireland® Recovery Centers, we use 12-Step facilitation (TSF) as one way to provide insight into the different ways that 12-Step groups and organizations can help you maintain the progress you achieved during treatment.

We will continue to support you after you complete our program. Your case manager will help you identify and connect with community recovery resources, including self-help groups.

Peer support is an essential part of continuing recovery.

Sometimes hesitation or misinformation can cause you to avoid using resources like 12-Step groups and organizations. At kathy ireland® Recovery Centers we believe everyone is stronger in their recovery when they have a full support system at their back.

Learn more about the benefits of the 12-Step facilitation and how it can improve your recovery by calling us today: (603) 619-1132.

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