SMART Recovery Program In Orange County
A new way of dealing with addiction recovery is starting to make its way all around the country. It’s called SMART Recovery. It stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training – and it’s proving to a formidable opponent to drug and alcohol addiction. SMART Recovery is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to helping people defeat their addiction and substance use disorder. The program also has international accolades for the quality of treatment it brings to everyone that signs up under the SMART Recovery umbrella.
SMART Recovery programs offer a different path for people going through treatment. Instead of emphasizing religion when accepting and overcoming addiction, this therapy relies on secular and scientific focuses. This approach to addiction treatment focuses on motivational, non-confrontational, behavioral, cognitive, and impassioned methods. There are a lot of moving wheels in this type of rehab treatment, which is why some addiction treatment therapists dedicate a lot of time to learning and perfecting the SMART Recovery approach. So participating in meetings can help anyone develop the necessary skills that this evidence-based treatment program can provide.
When it comes to dealing with drug addiction, there are a countless number of reasons that addiction can develop. Some people have a genetic predisposition to addictive behaviors. Some fell into addiction after falling ill or a surgery. And there are others that develop an addiction after dealing with some kind of mental health issues. SMART Recovery focuses on the underlying causes of addiction and utilizes a series of techniques and programs to help deal with the rehabilitation plus the future abstinence and recovery of the individual.
SMART Recovery is based on the newest forms of scientific thinking and knowledge instead of being based on a religious approach. That’s the biggest difference between SMART Recovery and something like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. But just because it’s a secular approach to recovery doesn’t mean that it’s only suited for atheists or agnostics. It’s just another approach to dealing with addiction and treatment because there are people who don’t want to rely on a higher power for salvation from addiction.
The cool thing about SMART Recovery is that it’s always changing. As the science around addiction and addiction treatment evolve – so does SMART Recovery and the therapy/treatment process. On the opposite end- there’s 12 Step Recovery programs that have been using the same steps for over 50 years. SMART Recovery uses different types of treatment programs such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and other types of treatments. These are just different types of therapies that might be used at our facilities in California. Our therapists combine established treatment methods with SMART Recovery and the most ground-breaking treatments available in addiction treatment.
How the SMART Recovery Program Works
SMART Recovery is an international non-profit that offers treatment to those looking for help with an addiction. Their philosophy – from their website – is:
To support individuals who have chosen to abstain, or are considering abstinence from any type of addictive behaviors (substances or activities), by teaching how to change self-defeating thinking, emotions, and actions; and to work towards long-term satisfaction and quality of life.
SMART Recovery utilizes a “4-point program,” but it’s nothing like the more rigid 12-step program. Instead, it focuses on a different approach, which again, is best described in their own words. SMART Recovery:
- Teaches self-empowerment and self-reliance.
- Encourages individuals to recover and live satisfying lives.
- Teaches tools and techniques for self-directed change.
- Meetings are educational and include open discussions.
- Advocates the appropriate use of prescribed medications and psychological treatments.
- Evolves as scientific knowledge of addiction recovery evolves.