Traditional 12 Step Programs
One of the core principles of 12 Step programs is acknowledging this - "the first step" - before beginning recovery work.
Powerlessness Over Alcohol/Addiction
This online community offers support and resources for people who prefer a secular or non-religious approach to 12 Step Recovery.
AA Agnostica
This term describes addictive patterns involving behaviors like gambling, gaming, or compulsive shopping rather than substances.
Behavioral/Process Addictions
This practice involves paying attention to the present moment without judging what you notice.
Mindfulness
This term refers to a system of beliefs, practices, and traditions that connect people to a sense of the sacred or divine.
Religion
This recovery community adapts support practices for people whose spirituality centers on nature-based or polytheistic traditions, offering an alternative to traditional 12 Step language.
Pagans in Recovery
This continent is the largest in the world by both land area and population.
Asia
Personalities
Secular approaches to recovery avoid references to divine beings or spiritual authority and instead focus on this kind of method.
Evidence-Based Approach (may accept non-religious)
This 12 Step fellowship focuses on helping people build healthy relationships by addressing patterns of codependency.
Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA)
This mindfulness-focused program teaches people in recovery how to notice cravings and difficult emotions without reacting automatically, helping reduce the risk of returning to old behaviors.
Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP)
OurJewishRecovery integrates recovery principles with practices from this faith tradition's cultural and spiritual heritage.
Judaism
The Wellbriety Movement emphasizes healing and recovery though cultural teachings from this group's traditional knowledge.
Indigenous (Native American) Communities
This European city is built on more than 100 small islands connected by canals and over 400 bridges.
Venice
This voluntary partnership pairs an experienced member with a newer one to offer guidance, support, and accountability.
Sponsor
SMART Recovery teaches participants to challenge unhelpful thoughts using tools drawn from this evidence-based therapy model.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
This 12 Step fellowship supports people seeking recovery from compulsive eating and food-related behaviors.
Overeaters Anonymous (OA)
Recovery Dharma bases its recovery philosophy on the Four Noble Truths, originally from this ancient spiritual tradition.
Buddhism
Millati Islami adapts 12 Step concepts to align with this sacred text's values and practices.
Qur'an
This circular symbol, often used in art and meditation, represents unity, wholeness, and harmony.
Mandala
This African mountain, the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, features distinct ecological zones from tropical to arctic as you ascend.
Mount Kilimanjaro
This AA concept describes the profound inner shift that can occur as a result of working the Steps, often called a "psychic change" in early AA literature.
Spiritual Awakening
The Twelve Secular Steps modify traditional steps by removing references to this concept while maintaining reflective structure.
Higher Power (will also accept God)
This secular version of the 12 Steps was created by author and therapist Serge Prengel to help people understand their patterns and make intentional, compassionate changes.
The Proactive 12 Steps
A common mindfulness exercise asks people to focus on this natural rhythm of the body to help steady the mind.
Celebrate Recovery blends recovery principles with teachings from this religious tradition.
Christianity
This ancient text, traditionally attributed to Lao Tzu, teaches living in harmony with the natural flow of the universe.
Tao Te Ching
This largest moon of Saturn is the only moon in the solar system known to have a dense atmosphere.
Titan
NA states that unity is essential for survival of the fellowship. This tradition emphasizes that personal recovery depends on the health of the group.
Tradition One (our common welfare should come first)
In SMART Recovery, the name "SMART" is actually an acronym that highlights the program's practical approach to behavior change. It stands for "Self-Management And" this key concept focused on directing one's own progress in recovery.
Self-Management And Recovery Training
This behavioral concept explains how repeating a pleasurable action strengthens the habit loop that can fuel a behavioral addiction.
Reinforcement
This simple mindfulness skill teaches people to pause and observe cravings or emotions efore acting, often used in recovery programs.
Urge Surfing
This ancient religion began in the Indus Valley over 4,000 years ago and includes sacred texts such as the Vedas and Upanishads.
Hinduism
This interactive section on the 12wisdomsteps website explores a spiritual tradition that blends religions, eco-spirituality, and mysticism to illustrate our interconnectedness with Earth and the universe.
Cosmology
This process in stars involves atomic nuclei combining under extreme heat and pressure, releasing enormous amounts of energy.
Nuclear Fusion