If you or someone close to you is going through recovery or thinking of getting treatment for substance abuse, a big part of that recovery process will include support groups. One of the most well-known is AA or NA, which uses the 12-step program. A lesser-known option is Celebrate Recovery. So, is Celebrate Recovery 12 step too?
Celebrate Recovery 12-Step: The Basics
The Celebrate Recovery 12 step program is in fact part of the commonly known 12-step program. It is a modified version that uses guiding principles focused much more on a Christian program. Whereas a common 12-step program allows the freedom and flexibility to acknowledge or support a higher being, a Celebrate Recovery 12 step focuses specifically on surrendering struggles to a Christian God in order to facilitate healing.
The Celebrate Recovery 12-step program is open to anyone 18 or older who is going through addiction or any type of significant pain. It follows a very similar format to AA with group meetings and sponsors. This type of program offers online Zoom group meetings for people who need immediate encouragement throughout their recovery but don’t necessarily have a physical or in-person group near them.
Who Can Use Celebrate Recovery 12 Step?
This program is designed for anyone over the age of 18. The purpose is to encourage those who are struggling with pain to enter a safe space where they can be honest about that and see the impact that negative behaviors may have had on themselves, on those around them, and on god.
The guiding principles behind this program are to help you accept that certain habits may have been developed as a way to escape mortal pain, but those habits resulted in unexpected and secondary pain for yourself and those around you.
With this type of program, you get a Biblical approach to long-lasting recovery and healthy, life-giving habits.
History of Celebrate Recovery 12-Step
Celebrate Recovery was founded in 1991 by a pastor who wanted a Christ-centered ministry to help people overcome bad habits, including addiction.
Celebrate Recovery 12 Step vs. AA or NA
When you look at the options, one of the biggest differences you’ll see between traditional AA or NA and Celebrate Recovery 12 Step is that Celebrate Recovery offers support for bad habits and pain in many forms beyond alcoholism or drug abuse.
Codependency
One of these options is a women’s codependency or men’s codependency share group where individuals can participate in a Christ-centered, safe space to overcome issues of codependency that might be exerting too much control over their personal lives.
Mental Health
Another of these options is the mental health team which focuses on ministries that empower people to be more aware of mental health and participate in mental health based missions led by trained professionals.
It is important to note that the mental health groups that they have might be useful for someone who is seeking treatment for co-occurring disorders, but they are not intended to be a replacement for medical treatment or professional therapy. Rather, they are a supplement for after you have received professional care.
Cultural Communities
On a similar note to AA or NA, Celebrate Recovery 12-step programs have ministering efforts around the world to tackle disappointment, hopelessness, pain, and addiction through the healing power of Christ and God’s forgiveness. This can take the form of different cultural communities.
Finding Support Groups with Multi-Concept Recovery
If you are struggling with addiction or co-occurring mental health and addiction problems, it is important that you participate in the right type of inpatient or outpatient treatment, after which you can start to incorporate support groups like Celebrate Recovery.
Our facility works to provide each client with an individualized approach to care. This includes the most appropriate level of care for addiction or other underlying conditions. As you transition through different levels of care, we will help prepare you for what comes after treatment. A big part of that is incorporating the right type of support, including access to local support groups.
At Multi-Concept Recovery, we offer group therapy for family members of addicts. We also help you find the best in-person or online resources, from 12-step programs to SMART recovery programs.
Overall, Celebrate Recovery 12 step is, in fact, a branch of the 12-step program. The biggest difference is that Celebrate Recovery is open to all sources of pain and bad habits, not just addiction, and it uses an openly Christ-centered approach to changing those habits for good. When you are finishing your treatment and need extra support, consider which types of support groups are best for you.
Contact Multi-Concept Recovery today to learn more about our group and individual therapy options.
