While traditional 12-step addiction recovery groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous have proven themselves of great value over many years, the program doesn’t work for everyone trying to divest themselves of addiction.
New to Lakeside, the SMART Recovery program will hold its first meeting June 27, 3 p.m. at the Sala of the Lake Chapala Society.
The program doesn’t exclude or include any particular addition. All addiction is treated in the same fashion.
“The main difference between SMART (Self Management And Recovery Training) and typical 12-step programs is that rather than relying on a higher or spiritual power for recovery, the addict learns that he or she has the power to change his or her addictive behavior,” said local SMART leader Pete Soderman. “The idea is to learn techniques to deal with addictions and urges and get on with your life, not to spend a lifetime in meetings.”
SMART relies on four points to curb addictive behavior of any kind. The first point addresses building and maintaining the motivation necessary to abstain from the addictive activity. Recognizing that urges are a normal part of the recovery process and providing a set of tools to deal with them is the second point of the program. “Urges serve as cues that trigger behaviors,” said Soderman, “but they don’t have to control us.”Point three of the program is learning self-management of thoughts, feelings and behaviors, or problem solving. It’s learning to live in the real world and deal with everyday problems and emotions as an important part of recovery. SMART uses Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) as a tool to learn to deal with life on a day-to-day basis.
Point four concerns finding a balance between short-term gratifications and the achievement of long-term goals and satisfactions.
“We learn to set goals in all areas of our lives,” says Soderman, “goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timed.”
SMART Recovery has more than 250 face-to-face meetings throughout the United States and other parts of the world and a full schedule of on-line meetings that run around the clock on the SMART website, http://smartrecovery.org.
The meetings are free of charge. A hat will be passed to defray expenses. For more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or attend the Open Circle meeting at the Lake Chapala Society on June 24, where Soderman will explain more about the program.