Alternatives to 12-Step Programs: Understanding Secular Approaches to Sobriety

A lot of recovery programs are based around religion and spirituality. While it is true that many people find spirituality to be a useful tool for achieving sobriety, many excellent programs do not use any religious or spiritual elements. 

Clear Steps Recovery has many treatment programs, including secular organizations for sobriety, to help you sustain a happy sober life after treatment. 

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Table of Contents

• What Is the Secular Approach to Recovery?
• Secular Sobriety Principles of Recovery
• Are Secular Sobriety Programs Effective?
• 4 Popular Secular Organizations for Sobriety
• Benefits of Participating in a Secular Recovery Organization
• Comparing Traditional Sobriety Programs to Secular Sobriety Programs
• Clear Steps Recovery Offers a Variety of Treatment Programs To Aid You on Your Journey of Recovery

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Secular addiction support is a network of medical recovery programs, addiction specialists, and resources that do not center around a religion or spirituality. Instead, secular recovery programs use community support, practical tools, and science-backed methods to achieve and sustain addiction recovery. 

Secular organizations aim to bypass the restrictive (and often confusing) rules of religion. Instead, secular recovery programs focus on evidence-based approaches to supporting sober living. If you are struggling with addiction in New Hampshire or Massachusetts but aren't interested in a religion-based sobriety program, consider Clear Steps Recovery’s secular addiction treatment programs. 

Most people are familiar with the Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous principles of recovery, but what is the secular version of AA? 

Secular sobriety principles of recovery have a lot of overlap with spiritual recovery programs, like AA, but without the religious element. These principles include:

• Judgment-free healing environments: Secular organizations for sobriety prioritize accessibility to people from all walks of life. They aim to offer a non-judgmental space for people to discuss their history and struggles with addiction disorders. 
• Inclusivity and diversity: Recovery programs based in religion can feel exclusive to those who are not of that faith. Secular organizations aim to be inclusive to everyone and celebrate our differences in the pursuit of sobriety. 
• Science-backed addiction recovery techniques: Secular recovery organizations focus on science-based techniques to help achieve and maintain sobriety. At Clear Steps Recovery, we emphasize psychology and therapy in our addiction programs as well as medical science to support long-term addiction recovery. 
• Flexibility and a plastic mindset to recovery: We work with participants to create addiction treatment around their needs. Whether that means offering night meetings for people who work during the day or hybrid and online options, we want to make our recovery meetings accessible to as many people as possible. 
• Long-term community support: Secular organizations for sobriety are all about acceptance and meeting participants where they are. They understand that recovery is not linear and can face many setbacks. That's why secular programs encourage a sober community for long-term addiction support. 

Addiction recovery is not one-size-fits-all. Addiction support is deeply personal and needs to be done in a safe and comfortable place. Secular recovery offers a great and effective path to sobriety. Secular sobriety programs are found to have similar abstinence rates to their religion-based counterparts. 

The studies about this topic are nuanced and inconclusive, but generally, secular sobriety programs appear to be just as effective as religion-based programs. They also offer a fantastic alternative for those seeking sobriety who suffer from religious trauma or simply prefer not to have a religious element to their treatment program. 

#1: SMART Recovery

SMART Recovery stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training. This secular approach to addiction treatment and recovery uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Emotive Behavioral Therapy (EBT) to achieve and maintain sobriety. SMART meetings center around:

• Creating and supporting motivation for sober living
• Building strategies for coping with cravings and urges
• Thought, feeling, and behavioral management 
• Overall life balance and well-being

#2: SOS (Secular Organizations for Sobriety)

Secular Organizations for Sobriety, also called Save Our Selves, is a non-profit secular alternative to programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. This network of autonomous addiction recovery groups uses similar methods but emphasizes mutual support and decision-making skills. 

The program places the highest priority on sobriety and utilizes mutual support to help members achieve this goal. Their guidelines are not religious or spiritual, focusing instead on decision-making skills.

#3: LifeRing Secular Recovery

Another popular secular organization for sobriety is LifeRing Secular Recovery. This secular meeting program supports sober living with a 3-S philosophy, which is:

• Sobriety – The LifeRing organization defines sobriety as “complete abstinence from alcohol or nonmedically indicated drugs.”
• Self-direction – LifeRing emphasizes personal responsibility and grasp of self. The program directs participants to look inward for the motivation to remain sober.
• Secularity – While LifeRing is a secular recovery organization, they are not anti-religion. They understand and support participants attending religious meetings as well, especially if that helps them stay sober. 

#4: Women for Sobriety

If you are looking for a female-focused secular organization for sobriety, consider Women for Sobriety. This organization is 50 years old and offers a safe space for women to meet and support each other in their journeys. 

Women for Sobriety focuses on compassion and creating a supportive community. The Women for Sobriety motto is “We are capable and competent, caring and compassionate, always willing to help another, bonded together in overcoming our addictions.” 

There are numerous benefits to seeking addiction treatment support from a secular program, including: 

• An inclusive environment
• Focus on self-empowerment
• Science-backed tools for sober living
• Flexible meetings 
• Individualized approach to the community for long-term and short-term 

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‍Traditional Spiritually-Based Sobriety Programs 

• Centered around a belief in a higher power
• Use the 12-step model
• Highly structured, step-based approach
• Focus on identity as an addict or alcoholic
• Group structured around the addict label
• Lifetime membership
• Emphasis on sponsorship programs 

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Secular Sobriety Programs 

• Emphasis on science-based approaches 
• Use of psychotherapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 
• Self-empowerment and personal responsibility
• A flexible identity not limited by addiction
• Goal-oriented not step-based
• Meetings can be seen as long-term or temporary 
• Mutual support without hierarchy
  

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No one treatment plan works for everyone, and some people find attending both secular sobriety and spiritually based programs to be helpful. When looking for a secular organization to support your sobriety, take the time to find one that makes you feel comfortable and safe. You are more likely to attend meetings and maintain sobriety with an organization that makes you feel heard and supported. 

If you are struggling to get sober, consider attending a treatment center. Clear Steps Recovery offers a wide variety of addiction treatment programs, including alcohol use disorder treatment. 

How To Choose a Secular Approach That’s Right for You

When you are looking for the right secular organization for sobriety, consider the following factors:

• Personal needs and goals: What do you hope to get out of these meetings? 
• Support group location: You are more likely to attend a group that is easy for you to get to, so find one close to where you live or work. 
• Online secular sobriety resources: Everything can be done online now, even meetings! If you are interested, look for a sobriety program that offers hybrid meetings, like Clear Steps Recovery. 
• Consider counselling services: If you are struggling with your sobriety, consider reaching out to a secular counselling service.

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Clear Steps Recovery offers excellent addiction treatment programs in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Our programs include secular-based Health Realization programs as well as medically-assisted treatments, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and family programs. 

We believe in offering our patients a comprehensive addiction treatment plan to set them up for the best chance of a better, sober life. Check out our website to learn more. 

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The content in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.