Holistic Approach to 12-Step Recovery
At New Jerusalem Recovery, we believe that true healing occurs when we treat the whole person—not just the addiction. By combining the time-tested wisdom of the 12-Step Program with a holistic recovery approach, we offer a comprehensive path to healing that addresses the mind, body, and spirit.
Our clients benefit from a multi-faceted approach that supports long-term recovery and a deep, lasting transformation.
What is the Holistic Approach to Recovery?
A holistic approach recognizes that addiction isn’t just a physical or mental illness—it’s a condition that affects every part of a person’s life. It requires treatment that goes beyond the traditional clinical methods, incorporating practices that focus on healing all aspects of the individual.
For us, this means offering a variety of therapies and activities that support:
Physical Health: Rebuilding a healthy lifestyle through exercise, nutrition, and relaxation.
Mental Wellness: Addressing underlying mental health issues such as trauma, anxiety, and depression that often accompany addiction.
Spiritual Healing: Encouraging individuals to connect with their inner selves, higher power, or sense of purpose to foster resilience and peace.
How Holistic Practices Complement the 12-Step Program
The 12-Step Program provides a proven framework for recovery, emphasizing personal accountability, spiritual growth, and support from a community. By integrating a holistic approach, we enhance the power of the 12-Steps in the following ways:
Physical Healing Through Exercise & Nutrition
Recovery is a journey that starts with the body. Our holistic programs include yoga, meditation, fitness, and nutrition counseling to help clients regain their physical strength, enhance energy levels, and reduce stress. These activities promote self-care and help restore the body’s natural balance—something critical to the process of breaking free from addiction.
Mental Clarity & Emotional Release
Mental health and addiction are closely intertwined. In our holistic program, we offer trauma-informed therapy, art therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness practices to address underlying emotional pain and negative thought patterns. These practices are essential for clients as they work through the 12 Steps, particularly when it comes to Step 4 (Moral Inventory) and Step 8 (List of People Harmed).
Spiritual Growth Beyond Traditional Religious Views
The 12-Step Program emphasizes spirituality, but that doesn't necessarily mean following a specific religious path. Our holistic approach encourages individuals to explore spirituality in a way that feels authentic to them, whether through meditation, nature walks, journaling, or connection to a higher power. These practices promote self-awareness and help with the often challenging Step 11: “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him.”
Building Healthy Relationships
Recovery is about more than just overcoming addiction; it’s about creating a meaningful, fulfilling life. Our holistic therapies foster communication skills, family therapy, and relationship-building exercises to help clients reconnect with loved ones and build lasting, healthy relationships. This work complements Step 9 (Making Amends) and Step 12 (Carrying the Message).
Supportive Community & Group Work
In the 12-Step Program, the fellowship and support of others is key. Our holistic approach reinforces this by creating safe spaces for group therapy, support circles, and peer-led activities, where clients can share their experiences, challenges, and successes. This sense of community is integral to long-term recovery.
How Our Holistic Programs Enhance the 12 Steps
Here’s how specific holistic therapies complement the 12-Step Program steps:
Step How Holistic Practices Enhance Recovery
Step 1: Admitting powerlessness Yoga and mindfulness practices help individuals ground themselves, fostering acceptance and awareness of their powerlessness over addiction.
Step 2: Belief in a higher power Spiritual guidance and meditation help individuals explore what spirituality means to them personally, without the pressure of adhering to a specific religious dogma.
Step 3: Turning over control Bodywork therapies like acupuncture and massage help release stored tension, allowing clients to feel a sense of surrender and relaxation, making it easier to turn their lives over to a higher power.
Step 4: Moral inventory Therapeutic writing and journaling help clients reflect deeply on their past behaviors and uncover hidden truths, encouraging self-awareness and healing.
Step 5: Admitting wrongs Group therapy allows clients to share their past mistakes in a safe, non-judgmental environment, helping them experience healing and release.
Step 6: Being ready for change Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps clients address limiting beliefs and develop healthier thought patterns, enabling them to embrace change.
Step 7: Humbly asking for help Breathing exercises and relaxation techniques help individuals release resistance and be open to change, assisting in letting go of old habits.
Step 8: Listing those harmed Family therapy and forgiveness exercises provide tools for making amends, allowing clients to confront and repair past relationships.
Step 9: Making amends Art therapy and role-playing provide creative ways for clients to express remorse and repair relationships.
Step 10: Continuing personal inventory Daily journaling and mindfulness practices support regular self-reflection, making it easier for clients to stay accountable.
Step 11: Improving contact with God Spiritual retreats and meditation help deepen one’s personal connection with a higher power, whatever that may look like.
Step 12: Carrying the message Community service and group support empower clients to share their experience and strength with others, passing on the gift of recovery.
A Path to Whole-Person Healing
By blending the strength of the 12-Step Program with the comprehensive benefits of a holistic recovery approach, we create an environment where individuals can heal fully—mind, body, and spirit. Our goal is to help you not only overcome addiction but build a life of purpose, peace, and personal fulfillment.
Ready to take the first step in your recovery journey? Contact Us today to learn more about how our holistic 12-Step program can work for you.