Everyone is familiar with the term 12-Step Method, but not many know what it refers to, and even fewer know what it means. The 12 steps were developed by the two founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). They drew their inspiration from the Oxford Group, who advocated for following what they called the Four Absolutes (absolute honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love). They believed these absolutes could be put to use in helping people overcome problems caused by their own fears and selfishness. Out of this, the 12 steps were created for members of AA to assist in their recovery.
At Paramount Recovery Centers, our 12-step treatment program gives people the structure and support they may need to begin and then maintain recovery. If you or a loved one may benefit from our 12-step treatment program, reach out to our team today by completing our online contact form.
12 Steps of AA
The goal of the 12 steps is to provoke an honest assessment of one’s life with humility and acceptance. It is about taking a look at yourself in the mirror and holding yourself accountable for your actions. By considering incorporating these 12 steps into your life, you may find something that resonates with you. The hope is that it will lead you to beneficial changes in your life and spiritual growth.
The 12 Steps of AA are:
- Step 1 – We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable
- Step 2 – Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity
- Step 3 – Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him
- Step 4 – Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves
- Step 5 – Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs
- Step 6 – Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character
- Step 7 – Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings
- Step 8 – Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all
- Step 9 – Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others
- Step 10 – Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it
- Step 11 – Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out
- Step 12 – Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs
12 Steps of Recovery
The 12 steps are the addiction recovery method most familiar to everyone and are available in every city. There are group meetings at all times in many different locations. You do not have to be a religious person to benefit from its methods, but personal responsibility and integrity are at the core of its values. Because of its widespread appeal and proven effectiveness, it remains one of the leading addiction recovery treatments. By combining it with the latest therapies, it leads to a balanced approach to treating your substance abuse problems.
Begin to Heal at Paramount Recovery Today
At Paramount Recovery in Southborough, Massachusetts, we treat all types of substance abuse disorders based on the 12-step method. We don’t offer detox, but we do provide a comprehensive program featuring multiple levels of outpatient care, including aftercare. We also offer some unique therapies like motivational enhancement therapy (MET) and motivational interviewing (MI). We are located in a secluded area with luxurious accommodations. Our team can be reached online for you to take the first step on your journey to wellness and recovery.
