Is SMART Recovery Right for You?

Recovery is not a one-size-fits-all plan. Though 12-step programs work well for some, there is a growing body of evidence to support the effectiveness of SMART Recovery, a 4-point program that uses science and self-empowerment to help people overcome addiction.

Take a look at some of the key benefits of SMART Recovery to determine if this mental health and educational program is right for you.

Offering Help for Any Addiction

SMART, which stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training, is not limited to those struggling with alcohol addiction. This short-term recovery support system can help you gain independence from any addiction, including to drugs, alcohol, medication, gambling, eating, shopping, and others. The science-based recovery program teaches participants how to enhance and maintain motivation; cope with urges; manage thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; and live a balanced life.

Supporting Individual Beliefs

If you consider yourself more scientific than spiritual, SMART Recovery could be a good choice for your pathway to recovery. While the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) involve submitting to a higher power, the language of SMART is based on science and self-empowerment. However, the program is open to all, including those who identify as religious. There is a place for everyone in the SMART Recovery program, regardless of religious background and beliefs.

Destigmatizing Addiction

Some people find the labels of “addict” and “alcoholic” to be self-defeating, undermining their personal motivation to change. SMART Recovery does not use these labels. SMART views addiction as a behavioral problem to correct, rather than a condition that defines you. Regardless of whether you believe addiction is a disease, SMART Recovery tools can help you gain independence from it.

Facilitating Accessible Meetings

SMART Recovery meetings are available in a wide range of facilities, including treatment centers, hospitals, schools, and military facilities, as well as online. In a luxury rehab center like Beachside Rehab, for instance, you can connect with peers through face-to-face meetings and receive additional support from a team of board-certified physicians, counselors, and trained staff. Plus, a global support system is available at all times through online chat rooms, message boards, and forums.

Providing a Strong Social Network

A healthy social network is an important part of a successful recovery program, and SMART encourages socialization among participants. SMART Recovery meetings, both in person and online, are designed to provide a comfortable environment for building relationships. Meetings are discussion-based, as participants talk with one another rather than at one another. These types of interaction with like-minded, supportive individuals provide a sense of belonging that can help you stick to your recovery goals.

Building Self-Reliance

While the first step of AA involves admitting that you are powerless over alcohol, SMART Recovery is based on a different set of beliefs. Rather than claiming powerlessness, SMART helps people find the power to change within themselves. By using science-based tools such as cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing, you can become more self-reliant in your efforts to change and to lead a meaningful and productive life.

Promoting Forward Thinking

In SMART Recovery, you won’t be doing a deep dive into your past. Since the past can’t be changed, it is not a focal point of the program. Instead, SMART Recovery focuses on the present and the future, where our choices can still make a difference. Meetings are positive and action-oriented, with discussions focused on how to apply SMART’s tools for change. Through the program, you will learn that it is your own persistence in moving forward that will determine your success.

There are multiple pathways to recovery. Choose a treatment program that aligns with your personal values and beliefs so you can embrace a meaningful, addiction-free life.

Beachside Rehab is a leader in the SMART Recovery program. Contact our trained admissions counselors at (888) 984-5288 to learn more about SMART Recovery at our luxury rehab center.

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