September is National Recovery Month, and if you or someone you care about is exploring recovery support, you should know that AA is just one of many paths available. Here are seven distinct approaches to addiction recovery groups, each with its own philosophy and format.
1. AA and 12-step programs
The most well-known recovery model, Alcoholics Anonymous and its offshoots (NA, CA, GA) follow a 12-step framework rooted in spiritual principles. Meetings are free, widely available, and offer a built-in community. Best for people who resonate with a spiritual (not necessarily religious) approach and want lifelong community support.
2. SMART Recovery
SMART Recovery (Self-Management and Recovery Training) is a science-based alternative that uses cognitive behavioral techniques. Meetings focus on building motivation, coping with urges, managing thoughts and behaviors, and living a balanced life. Best for people who prefer a secular, skills-based approach.
3. Refuge Recovery / Recovery Dharma
A Buddhist-inspired approach that uses mindfulness and meditation as core recovery tools. Meetings include guided meditation, readings, and group discussion. Best for people drawn to mindfulness practices and Eastern philosophy.
4. LifeRing Secular Recovery
LifeRing emphasizes personal responsibility and the “sober self.” Meetings are peer-led, secular, and focused on the present and future rather than past wrongs. Best for people who want a forward-looking, non-spiritual approach.
5. Women for Sobriety
Founded in 1975, Women for Sobriety (WFS) addresses the unique challenges women face in recovery. The program uses 13 acceptance statements focused on building self-esteem and emotional growth. Best for women who want a gender-specific recovery community.
6. Celebrate Recovery
A Christ-centered recovery program that addresses a wide range of hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Often hosted by churches. Best for people who want to integrate their Christian faith into their recovery.
7. Clinical addiction group therapy
Led by licensed therapists, clinical addiction groups combine evidence-based treatment (CBT, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention) with the benefits of group support. These are often covered by insurance. Best for people who want professional clinical treatment in a group setting.
How to choose
Try more than one. Most recovery groups welcome newcomers, and many people attend multiple types before finding their fit. Consider whether you want a spiritual, secular, or clinical approach, whether peer-led or professionally-led feels better, your schedule and the availability of meetings near you, and whether you prefer in-person or online options.
Search for recovery groups on The Group Guide to see what is available in your area.
Keep reading
- How to find a support group near you (online and in-person)
- What makes peer support groups so useful
- Peer support vs group therapy: what’s the difference?
Ready to find the right group for you? Browse over 2,000 therapy groups, support groups, and peer communities, searchable by topic, location, and format. Find a group near you →
A note on what we do (and don’t). The Group Guide is a directory. Group leaders write their own listings, and we don’t vet, supervise, or endorse them. We’re not a clinic, and we don’t guarantee outcomes. That’s the group’s work, not ours.
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