Starting the journey toward recovery is a brave and life-changing decision. But for many, the first question isn't just "How do I stay sober?" — it’s "Where do I start?"
Recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some find strength in spiritual programs, while others prefer secular approaches. Both paths offer powerful tools — the important thing is finding what works for you. In this guide, we’ll introduce you to four major recovery programs: Alcoholics Anonymous, Recovery Dharma, LifeRing Secular Recovery, and SMART Recovery — offering a foundation to help you take your first steps.
Spiritual vs Secular Recovery: What's the Difference?
Spiritual recovery programs often emphasize surrendering to a Higher Power, cultivating humility, and seeking personal transformation through spiritual growth. They may use concepts like prayer, meditation, and spiritual inventories.
Secular recovery programs focus more on personal agency, self-empowerment, and scientific principles like cognitive behavioral therapy. They provide space for people of all belief systems — including atheists and agnostics — to recover without spiritual language.
Neither is “better” or “worse.” Recovery is personal. The right path is simply going to be whichever one keeps YOU sober!
Finding Your Path
- Alcoholics Anonymous
“Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who come together to solve their drinking problem. It doesn’t cost anything to attend A.A. meetings. There are no age or education requirements to participate. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about their drinking problem. Members use AA’s twelve steps to maintain their sobriety. A.A.’s Twelve Steps are a set of spiritual principles. When practiced as a way of life, they can expel the obsession to drink and enable the sufferer to recover from alcoholism.”
The book Alcoholics Anonymous describes the AA program of recovery, and also contains stories written by the co-founds and from a range of people who have found recovery through AA. You can read more about Alcoholics Anonymous here: https://www.aa.org/what-is-aa
- Recovery Dharma
“Recovery Dharma is a peer-led movement and community that is unified by our trust in the potential of each of us to recover and find freedom from the suffering of addiction. We believe that the traditional Buddhist teachings, often referred to as the Dharma, offer a powerful approach to healing from addiction and living a life of true freedom.”
“We believe that recovery means empowerment, and we support each other as partners walking the path together. We believe that recovery is rooted in finding our own inner wisdom and individual journeys.”
“Recovery Dharma is founded on, and inspired by, Buddhism that originated in India and later on flourished in other regions of Asia (e.g., South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia). We deeply appreciate the Buddhist heritage that was protected and freely offered by the ancestors of these cultures.” You can read more about Recovery Dharma here: https://recoverydharma.org/about/
- LifeRing Secular Recovery
“LifeRing Secular Recovery is an organization of people who share practical experiences and sobriety support. There are as many ways to live free of illicit or non-medically indicated drugs and alcohol as there are stories of successful sober people. Many LifeRing members attend other kinds of meetings or recovery programs, and we honor those decisions. Some have had negative experiences in attempting to find help elsewhere, but most people soon find that LifeRing’s emphasis on the positive, practical present-day can turn anger and despair into hope and resolve. LifeRing respectfully embraces what works for each individual.”
“LifeRing believes you DO have the power to overcome your addiction. It’s hard, there are often setbacks, but in every addict there exists the desire to find lasting sobriety. We think of that as the Sober Self. With addiction, that part of us has been beaten down and relegated to a corner of our brains, but it’s still there. We also have an Addict Self that wants to control our decision-making and lead us to use the substance that is wrecking our lives.”
“LifeRing tries to support your efforts to strengthen the Sober Self and weaken the Addict Self. Our meetings, whether in person or online, consist of addicts using their Sober Self to connect with the Sober Self of other addicts. We share advice, understanding, and encouragement. We focus primarily on our current lives, not on the hurts and damages of the past. Two addicts, talking Sober-Self to Sober-Self, learn from each other, and gain strength from each other.”
You can read more about LifeRing here: https://lifering.org/lifering-recovery-menu/
- SMART Recovery
“SMART Recovery (SMART stands for Self management and recovery training) is an evidence-informed recovery method grounded in Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), that supports people with substance dependencies or problem behaviors to: build and maintain motivation, cope with urges and cravings, manage thoughts, feelings and behaviors, and live a balanced life.”
SMART Recovery is based around five main principles:
- Self management- the idea that people can manage their own behaviors
- Mutual Support- the idea that there is great value in connecting with and learning from peers with similar experiences
- Choice- people in SMART Recovery choose their own goals, skills and tools
- Evidence led- All their programs are based on scientific evidence and on-going evaluation is encouraged
- Person centered- people with lived experiences are essential in guiding the SMART Recovery program.
You can read more about SMART Recovery here: https://smartrecovery.org/what-is-smart-recovery
Conclusion
Recovery isn’t about fitting yourself into a box — it’s about building a life you don’t need to escape from. You might try different programs before finding one that feels right for you. Many people even blend tools and resources from several programs, forging their own unique recovery journey.
The most important thing? Start. Reach out. Walk into that first meeting. Give yourself the chance you deserve.
If you’re new to recovery and feeling overwhelmed, remember: no matter which path you take, you’re not walking it alone.
Finally, if you still have questions, or just want an easy place to start, you can always reach out to us at @gauchos_for_recovery on instagram.