A maxim in 12-Step recovery reads, “We must practice these principles in all of our affairs.” So, what does this statement mean exactly? What this means is that we must not solely abide by and follow the 12 Steps in our recovery settings, such as treatment centers and 12-Step meetings. We must also practice the 12 Steps in all aspects of our lives.

Recovery can be challenging. This is why it is crucial to be in a safe and supportive environment from the start. In this environment, we can focus on our recovery, especially 12-Step recovery, without any distractions. But what happens when it is time to go back out into our everyday lives? This is where the focus on the transition from the treatment center to long-term recovery is so crucial, which is why Brazos Recovery offers an effective and successful 12-Step transitional plan.

Understanding 12-Step Recovery

Before we can understand why the 12 steps are so crucial to a transition from a recovery center, we must understand why the 12 steps are so crucial to recovery in the first place. The 12 steps offer a way of life that doesn’t simply promote abstinence. They promote a way of life that replaces alcohol and substance abuse with purpose, redemption, and spiritual growth.

The original 12-Step recovery program was Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), and it was cofounded roughly 88 years ago by two men struggling with alcohol addiction. These men were Bill W. and Dr. Bob, and they determined that working with others with shared struggles and following a set of 12 “rules” was the only way that they could not only gain sobriety but, more importantly, attain recovery.

The 12 steps of recovery that they adapted and created outline a way of living that help an individual struggling with addiction. It helps them admit that they have a problem, accept that they have a problem, take action to address it, and remain accountable to stop that problem from resurfacing and hurting themselves and others. These are the very broad strokes of 12-Step recovery, of which Brazos Recovery is a supporter and facilitator.

Understanding 12-Step Facilitation

When thinking about 12-Step recovery, it is essential to remember that no one holds a monopoly over recovery. Not us here at Brazos Recovery. No, not even Bill W., Dr. Bob, and the 12 steps. The primary text of A.A., known as the “Big Book,” even states that if an individual finds another way to achieve recovery, then by all means, they should utilize it. We here at Brazos Recovery primarily focus on 12-Step recovery, but we also have other treatment modalities. This is what makes us a 12-Step facilitation program rather than solely a 12-Step program.

At Brazos Recovery, we introduce or reintroduce the 12 steps to our clients as a way to accept, embrace, and combat their struggles with addiction. We do so by sharing our own experiences with addiction and 12-Step recovery. Also, we utilize 12-Step meetings, Big Book study, and the 12-Step sponsor/sponsee concept to help clients connect and open up with others in the program.

It is this immersion into 12-Step recovery that can be so beneficial for growth at the beginning of a recovery journey. Being surrounded by the 12-Step promises of a new way of life allow our clients to fully embrace their recovery and create a foundation that can carry them into long-term recovery. However, for that long-term recovery to stick, it is critical to have a transition plan in place.

Brazos Recovery’s Focus On Transitioning From Treatment

Going back to the concept of working the 12-Step program “in all of our affairs,” the truth is that it is generally more manageable to do so within the recovery center. This makes sense. Everyone around us is on the same mission of spirituality, accountability, and growth. So when this environment goes away, it can be a shock.

This is where Brazos Recovery reveals our long-term effectiveness. We help our clients connect with other 12-Step members and groups outside our doors. Being a male-only facility, we instill the necessary tools it takes to be a responsible dad and husband in long-term recovery through our “big brother program.” We also have the means to help individuals that need more focused help into sober living facilities, as well as an extended care program to keep them connected to their recovery.

Recovery does not end once an individual leaves our doors at Brazos Recovery. This is where the rubber meets the road, and our clients begin to fully use the tools they learned to travel the path of long-term recovery. The 12 steps are life-changing, and at Brazos Recovery, we can show you why that is, and how to make it happen.