Recovery is improving your health and managing illness. In the United States, 50.2 million adults consider themselves in recovery from addiction or a mental health condition. Many times, when people think about recovery, what comes to mind is a group setting such as the Celebrate Recovery Twelve Steps Program. This group is based on the belief that true and lasting healing comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ. This guide will help walk you through the basics of the Celebrate Recovery program, how it works and who it’s for.
Overview of Celebrate Recovery and Its Origins
Pastor John and Cheryl Baker of Saddleback Church founded Celebrate Recovery in 1991 to provide a place where individuals can face their addictions without judgment. John believed the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous were Bible-based, and he wanted to create a program that made this distinction apparent.
Celebrate Recovery Twelve Steps combines a traditional 12-step program with the teachings of Jesus, specifically, the beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. Using this program, an individual can address their hurts, habits and hang-ups:
- Hurts. These may include abuse, trauma, grief and abandonment issues from the past.
- Habits. This includes addictive behaviors, such as substance abuse, gambling, codependency and eating disorders.
- Hang-ups. These may include any negative character patterns or mental issues, such as anger, depression, resentment or fear, that can prevent personal and spiritual growth.
How It Differs From Traditional 12-Step Programs
Even though Celebrate Recovery was inspired by the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program, there are some key differences:
- The nature of a higher power. Traditional 12-step programs encourage members to submit to a higher power. By using this terminology, the group covers a broader range of religious backgrounds. Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered program that names Jesus as the one and only higher power.
- The core text. In AA, the primary text comes from the “Big Book.” In Celebrate Recovery, the Bible is the ultimate authority that defines the program’s curriculum. All text is rooted in scripture.
- Anonymity vs. community. AA operates on the principle of anonymity. Celebrate Recovery encourages its members to join the church and be part of a larger community. Typically, someone struggling with addiction feels isolated and alone, and Celebrate Recovery is about open fellowship.
- Issues addressed. Traditional 12-step programs focus on a specific drug or alcohol addiction. Celebrate Recovery welcomes people with any type of habit. And instead of meeting in separate groups, all members come together in a single group to support one another.
Faith-Based Approach to Addiction, Mental Health and Trauma
Celebrate Recovery focuses on the belief that true freedom in life comes from a healthy relationship with Jesus Christ. The program is built on eight principles derived from Matthew 5:3-10 and the 12 steps of Celebrate Recovery.
The eight principles of Celebrate Recovery are:
- Reach a point in your recovery where you admit you can’t fix yourself on your own.
- Embrace the fact that God exists and that he cares for you and has the power to restore you.
- Choose to trust in Jesus and follow his guidance.
- Take an honest look at your life and confess your shortcomings to God.
- Ask God to remove your character flaws, and welcome the changes in your life.
- Examine your relationships and forgive those who’ve hurt you. You should also ask for forgiveness from those you’ve hurt.
- Connect with God every day through prayer and studying his word.
- Devote your life to serving God, sharing his message and helping others along their healing journey.
Structure of Meetings and Participant Roles
Celebrate Recovery group meetings last about an hour and are held once a week. The meetings start with a large group that resembles a church service. Meetings typically have the following structure:
Part 1: Large Group
- Praise and worship. The entire group worships together, singing Christian praise songs.
- Teaching. The group leader teaches a lesson on one of the eight principles or shares a personal story of healing.
- Announcements and celebrations. The group takes time to share with one another and celebrate individual recovery milestones. Chips and tokens may be handed out for lengths of sobriety time.
Part 2: Small Groups
After the initial large-group praise and worship, small, gender-specific groups may break off. These smaller groups address specific addiction issues, such as men’s alcohol addiction or women’s codependency. It’s also when members engage in the intensive work of the 12 steps of CR. Five simple rules guide these small groups:
- When you share, focus on your own thoughts and feelings.
- Don’t interrupt one another or make comments on what others have shared.
- The goal of the group is to support and not fix each another.
- All shared information should be kept anonymous and confidential.
- Offensive language isn’t allowed.
Who Can Benefit From Celebrate Recovery’s Twelve Steps?
Celebrate Recovery is open to anyone who feels they need help. If you attend a meeting, you’ll likely encounter people from all walks of life. The issues addressed may include:
- Alcohol and drug addiction
- Anxiety and depression
- Codependency and relationship problems
- Past trauma
- Anger and resentment
- Food addiction and eating disorders
- Gambling addictions
- Grief and loss
How to Get Involved or Find a Local Group
To find a local Celebrate Recovery group, visit the official website and enter your address. You can search for a group within 25–500 miles. If you’re unable to attend a meeting in person, you can also search for weekly online Zoom meetings. Visit the above link and enter your email address. You’ll receive a Zoom link and all the information needed to join.
Getting Help
If you or someone you love needs help with mental illness or addiction, support is available. Contact FHE Health to learn more about our evidence-based treatment programs.
