12-step programme For Addiction Treatment
The 12 Steps have helped millions of people worldwide overcome addiction. At the Providence Projects, we’ve seen the benefits of this approach firsthand. Thousands of our clients have used the 12 Steps not only to understand their addiction but also to build a lasting foundation for recovery.
What is the 12-step programme?
The 12-step programme was created in the 1930s by the founders of AA and has since been adapted across the world for drug, alcohol and behavioural addictions. The strength of the model lies in its structure and community: recovery is broken down into manageable actions, supported by peers who share the journey. Unlike some treatments, the 12 Steps don’t have a fixed timeline; many people find they remain a guiding framework for life, long after formal rehab ends.
What are the steps followed in 12-step therapy?
Each of the 12 steps is designed to build on the last. The original steps explained what the creators had done to achieve sobriety, and while some of the language used may be a little dated or non-inclusive today, they are as effective now as they were then. Here are the original steps and how they work in practice:
We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable
In practice, this means being honest with yourself that your addiction has taken control. It means recognising that willpower alone hasn’t worked because admitting that is the first step forward.
We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity
This doesn’t have to mean religion. It means accepting that recovery is possible with support outside of just yourself. That support could come from a recovery group, a belief in God, or simply the belief that change is possible.
We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him
This is about letting go of the idea that you must control everything. Instead, you should start to trust the treatment process, your support network or your faith in something bigger to help guide you.
We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves
This means taking a deep, honest look at yourself, including your actions, habits and how addiction has affected you and others.
We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character
Step six is about being willing to let go of destructive patterns and traits that have been keeping you trapped.
We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings
This step is about actively seeking change and growth. Crucially, it means not trying to do it all alone but leaning on support with humility and acceptance.
We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all
Step eight is one of the biggest as it directs you to write down the people whom your addiction has hurt. This may have been done directly or indirectly, but it sets you up to make things right in step nine.
We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others
This can be one of the scariest steps, but also one of the most important. Where it’s safe and appropriate, step nine directs you to reach out to repair the relationships that have been harmed. If direct amends aren’t possible, you can still show change through your actions moving forward, so you don’t harm future relationships.
We continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it
This is about ongoing honesty with yourself. Nobody is perfect, but owning up to mistakes quickly prevents them from snowballing into a relapse.
We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out
Whether through prayer, meditation or quiet reflection, this penultimate step is about staying connected, grounded and focused on recovery every day.
Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practise these principles in all our affairs
Whether through prayer, meditation or quiet reflection, this penultimate step is about staying connected, grounded and focused on recovery every day.
Start your recovery journey today.
Finding the best rehab treatment for you is the first vital step in achieving life-long recovery from your addiction. Whether it is for you, or for a loved one, do not hesitate to find out how we at Providence Projects can help you.
Why is the 12-step programme used in addiction treatment?
There are many fantastic benefits of the 12-step programme being used in rehab treatment for addiction, which is why it is a key part of treatment at the Providence Projects. Some of these benefits include:
- A safe space for those in recovery to meet, share experiences and find connection, identification and support from each other
- Good habits developed during early 12-step therapy in rehab are more likely to be maintained post-rehab as you attend 12-step support groups
- Help adjusting to independent living after inpatient rehab
- Help building your sober support network, which you can carry with you throughout your recovery
- A great opportunity to find a sponsor who has walked the same path and who you can turn to for advice and guidance
- Support groups for families and loved ones of those in recovery
- Proven relapse prevention benefits as doubts or loss of motivation can be challenged by the wisdom and shared experience of the group
How does the 12-step programme work at Providence Projects?
At Providence Projects, the 12-step programme is woven into your recovery pathway from the very beginning for all of our treatment programmes, including;
- Alcohol rehab
- All drug rehabs
- All prescription drug rehabs
- Legal high rehabs
- Behavioural rehabs (such as gambling rehab)
In primary care, you will be introduced to the foundations of 12-step therapy. This includes attending structured group sessions, where you will explore the steps, their application to your own story, and how to work through them one by one.
If you stay on for secondary care, you will have more time to unpack the steps in detail, apply them to your real-life struggles and begin living the principles day-to-day. You will also learn how to apply these steps outside of treatment, so when you leave the safety of rehab, you have a clear plan to follow.
Crucially, the 12 steps sit alongside other therapies, so you may spend your morning at Providence in a one-to-one therapy session and your afternoon in a 12-step therapy group. Together, they provide you with both personal insight and practical support to move forward.
The 12-step programme after leaving Providence Projects
For many people, the real strength of 12-step therapy comes after rehab, when you’re back in everyday life and facing the pressures, temptations, and emotions that once fuelled your addiction.
By continuing with the 12 steps, you give yourself an ongoing structure and a community to lean on. The 12-step programme is designed to travel with you, with meetings held worldwide, including many 12-step programme UK meetings. There are even online meetings if you are unable to attend in person. This means that wherever you are, you will find people who understand exactly what you’re going through. There is no cost to attend, no waiting lists and no judgement. With our extended treatment pathway, our sober living options and alumni network will allow us to continue to support you through the 12-steps, even after you have left our rehab centre.
The team of counsellors here at The Providence Projects are always available.
If you would like to find out more about how you can best set healthy boundaries, how you can hopefully encourage your loved one to seek help, find out more about intervention or the treatment process, please call anytime.
Going in, I had no life…the Providence Projects has given my life back to me. I couldn’t have done it on my own. I found instantly how warm and welcoming everyone was.
LEO HAYDEN, FORMER CLIENT
Watch Leo's Story
Reach out to the Providence Projects today
The 12-step programme has guided millions of people worldwide into lasting recovery, and it could guide you too. At Providence Projects, you will start working through the steps as part of your treatment, with support to continue long after you leave. Contact us today and discover how the 12 steps can help rebuild your life.
Start your recovery journey today.
Finding the best rehab treatment for you is the first vital step in achieving life-long recovery from your addiction. Whether it is for you, or for a loved one, do not hesitate to find out how we at Providence Projects can help you.