What is Celebrate Recovery?
Celebrate Recovery 12 Steps focus on helping people with drug or alcohol use disorder. Many of these people may feel broken and want to put the pieces of their lives back together to feel stronger again. Healing is a long process, and individuals who choose to join this program, in particular, will learn to heal and recover through the higher power of their beliefs, Jesus Christ. These Celebrate Recovery guidelines and meetings typically occur with a Celebrate Recovery (CR) group led by a trained and experienced leader.
The leader will guide the discussion and discuss their healing from trials and tribulations with God’s help. Participants are also encouraged to break into smaller Celebrate Recovery groups of people who struggle with similar problems to build another level of support. This Celebrate Recovery Steps program reinforces the idea that faith makes change possible.
The 12 Steps Recovery Celebration support groups are an essential aspect of treatment. The program began in 1991 at Saddleback Church in California. Led by Pastor Rick Warren, the church created the program due to a 13-page letter written by John Baker, an alcoholic, and a church staff member.
His letter outlined the format for an addiction recovery group guided strictly by Christian principles for those looking to heal. What began as a letter has developed from Celebrate Recovery small group guidelines into one of the largest addiction recovery support groups that have grown in popularity. To this day, John Baker still creates the Celebrate Recovery curriculum. [1]
Celebrate Recovery Locator
Celebration Recovery (CR) is a faith-based recovery program that aims to help people overcome addictions, hurts, and other life issues. The Celebrate Recovery locations for the meetings can vary depending on your site. However, there are a few ways to find Celebrate Recovery meeting lists in your area.
Celebrate Recovery Meetings Near Me
| Visit the official Celebrate Recovery website. | You can use the “Find a CR” tool on the CR website www.celebraterecovery.com (celebrate recovery com) to search for meetings near you. Enter your location, and the tool will show you a list of nearby meeting locations and times. |
| Connect with your State Rep. | Celebrate Recovery State Representatives across the US are equipped to help get 12 Steps CR ministries commenced in your local churches and are available as a resource as the program grows. |
| Check local churches. | Many churches offer Celebrate Recovery meetings as a part of their outreach programs. Check the websites or bulletin boards of churches in your area to see if they provide CR meetings and when they occur. |
8 Principles of Celebrate Recovery
Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered, 12-Step program designed to help individuals struggling with various hurts, habits, and hang-ups. The program is built on eight principles that guide participants through the recovery process:
- 1st Principle: Realize I’m not God; I admit that I cannot control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable. (Step 1)
- 2nd Principle: Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He can help me recover. (Step 2)
- 3rd Principle: Consciously commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control. (Step 3)
- 4th Principle: Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, God, and someone I trust. (Steps 4 and 5)
- 5th Principle: Voluntarily submit to any changes God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects. (Steps 6 and 7)
- 6th Principle: Evaluate all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I’ve done to others when possible, except when to do so would harm them or others. (Steps 8 and 9)
- 7th Principle: Reserve daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will. (Steps 10 and 11)
- 8th Principle: Yield me to God to bring this Good News to others by my example and words. (Step 12)
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How Celebrate Recovery Lessons Makes A Difference?
People who struggle with an addiction may feel lost, misunderstood, lonely, or alone. Joining a faith-filled program that follows the ways of Jesus gives you the direction you need to remain centered, using your faith, in your recovery. Furthermore, this program grants you the fellowship and support of fellow believers who can enlighten and lift you in times of hardship. Your faith becomes your axis and your focus, giving you the strength and insight that you need while you traverse the, at times, overwhelming and challenging journey for life-long sobriety.
12 Steps Program Facts
Relapse Prevention Program
12-Step programs are a big part of relapse prevention. Preventing relapse is a crucial aspect of recovery from alcohol and substance abuse. Here are some techniques that can help avoid relapse:
- Develop a Strong Support System: A solid support system of family, friends, and a sober community can give you accountability and encouragement.
- Attend Meetings Regularly: Support group meetings like Celebrate Recovery, Alcoholics Anonymous, or Narcotics Anonymous can help maintain sobriety and provide a safe place to share experiences.
- Practice Self-Care: Engaging in exercises and activities that promote physical, mental, and emotional health, such as exercise, meditation, and therapy, can help reduce stress and prevent relapse.
- Avoid Triggers: Identify and avoid people, places, and situations that may trigger a desire to use drugs or alcohol.
- Learn and Practice Coping Skills: Developing coping skills like relaxation techniques, problem-solving skills, and positive self-talk can help manage cravings and difficult emotions.
- Stay Focused on the Long-Term Goals: Remembering the reasons for seeking sobriety and staying focused on long-term goals can motivate you to stay sober.
- Be Prepared for Setbacks: Relapse is possible, and it’s crucial to be prepared for setbacks by having a plan to address them, such as contacting a sponsor, therapist, or treatment center.
Faith Based 12 Step Program
A faith-based 12-Step program, such as Celebrate Recovery, is a recovery program that combines the traditional 12-Step approach with a strong emphasis on faith in a higher power. These programs are often rooted in Christian beliefs but can also include other faiths.
Celebrate Recovery Step Study History
Rick Warren, founder and the head pastor of Saddleback Church, had grown weary of the traditional 12-step methods typically employed within recovery group meetings and their relatively ambiguous description of a higher power. Though acknowledging their success, he sought to create something different that clearly defined the higher power as Jesus Christ. He turned to the Bible to do this, looking for concepts that could be applied to this Christ-centered Recovery, Celebrate Recovery.
Warren writes on the Celebrate Recovery website, “To my amazement, I found the principles of recovery, and even their logical order, given by Christ in his most famous message, the Sermon on the Mount.” He put what he discovered into a message. Celebrate Recovery was born with his Associate Pastor, John Baker (also a founder of Celebrate Recovery), who wrote the program’s workbooks.
12 Step Sobriety Calculator
Keeping track of your sobriety date can be a great way to stay motivated with your recovery journey. A sobriety date calculator is a great way to quickly and efficiently see how many days, months, and years you have been sober.
Celebrating recovery from addiction is an important and meaningful milestone that deserves recognition and praise. Whether someone is celebrating a day, a week, a month, a year, or many years of sobriety, it is an accomplishment that should be acknowledged and celebrated.
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Hotline(844) 597-1011Celebrate Recovery 12 Step Program Statistics
The effectiveness of the 12-Step program may vary based on individual factors, such as the severity of the addiction, the individual’s motivation to change, and their social support network. Furthermore, alternative recovery programs and approaches may be more effective for some individuals. While there is no single answer to how many people find the 12-step program helpful for sobriety, participation in such programs can be a valuable tool for many individuals seeking recovery from addiction.
50%
Support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, tout about a 50 percent success rate, stating that another 25 percent stay sober after some relapses.
Source: NCBI
62%
Sixty percent of the public knows somebody who has struggled with substance use disorder, and 62 percent consider the problem widespread.
Source: CDC
40%-60%
Addiction relapse rates are comparable to chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. Studies have found that between 40 percent and 60 percent of individuals with substance use disorders relapse within one year of completing treatment.
Source: NIDA
Top 3 Celebrate Recovery FAQs
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How Celebrate Recovery is different from other programs?
Not all recovery programs are the same. Choosing a path of recovery that is right for you is an intensely personal choice that can make the difference between your achievement and continuing substance use. That’s why Celebrate Recovery has been successfully helping struggling addicts overcome their addiction for the past 25 years. This program was designed to offer you tools and skills to beat your addiction while participating in the fellowship of a program centered on Christ.
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Who started Celebrate Recovery?
Celebrate Recovery was started by Pastor John Baker in 1990 at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. The program was developed as a Christian-based approach to helping people overcome various issues, including addiction, codependency, and other compulsive behaviors. Since then, Celebrate Recovery has grown into a worldwide ministry with thousands of groups meeting in churches and different community settings.
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How the 12-Steps are different in Celebrate Recovery?
According to Celebrate Recovery, they are “a Christ-centered program with foundations firmly established in Biblical truth.” Unlike other 12-Step programs, they expressly designate Jesus Christ as the higher authority based on the stages. Furthermore, each of the traditional 12 Steps is paired with a Bible verse that further exemplifies the goal and purpose of each step, as well as a direct reference to how Christ’s guidance may lead and guide you in your pursuit, as noted in their main website, their programs achieved at “tying historical recovery to timeless Biblical teaching.”
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(844) 597-1011The 12 Steps of Celebrate Recovery
Faith is a powerful thing and can be a sense of strength for people who are struggling. There are many Christian therapies for drug addiction and alcoholism, but not everything will work for everyone. Celebrate Recovery believes in exposing our clients to various Christian rehab programs so that each person can get the most out of their addiction treatment. That can help your journey to sobriety and a closer relationship with God.
Celebrate Recovery is a Christian-based program designed to help individuals overcome various struggles, including addiction, codependency, and emotional issues. The 12 Steps of Celebrate Recovery are:
- We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors and that our lives had become unmanageable.
- We believed that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- We decided to turn our will and lives to God’s care as we understood Him.
- We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- We admitted to God, ourselves, and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
- We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when doing so would injure them or others.
- We continued to take personal inventory and, when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
- We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
- Having had a spiritual experience resulting from these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and practice these principles in all our affairs.
These 12 Steps are designed to be worked through in order, with the guidance of a sponsor or mentor. They are based on the belief that by turning the lives of those who believe over to a higher power and taking accountability and responsibility for their actions, we can overcome our struggles and find lasting recovery.
8 Principles Celebrate Recovery for Everyone
Another facet of Celebrate Recovery stands out from other programs; it is not a recovery program solely devoted to addiction. Rather than that, its website states it “is a broad umbrella” software that “allows for the resolution of an infinite number of problems.” Warren adds, “Within Saddleback Congregation, the church where this program started, just one in every three Celebrate Recovery participants shared their Celebrate Recovery testimonies of struggles with alcohol or drugs.”
This approach makes the program multi-dynamic because it can meet anyone, anywhere, within their journey and life experience. It brings together people of all perspectives, experiences, and walks of life so that they may help lift each other. It helps people look at the root of the problem and tackle it with their faith and love for the Lord.
Celebrate Recovery is based on eight principles that guide individuals toward healing and recovery. These principles are:
- Realize I’m not God; I admit I cannot control my tendency to do wrong, and my life is unmanageable.
- Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He can help me recover.
- Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control.
- Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, God, and someone I trust.
- Voluntarily submit to any changes God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects.
- Evaluate all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I’ve done to others whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Reserve daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will.
- Yield me to God to bring this Good News to others by my example and words.
If you’re thinking about the dangers of Celebrate Recovery (often misspelled as “Celebreate Recovery “), it may not be suitable or comfortable for those who do not share these beliefs. Celebrate Recovery can be a helpful and supportive program for individuals in recovery. However, it is crucial to consider the potential risks and drawbacks before committing to this approach. Individuals should also consult a healthcare professional or addiction specialist to determine whether Celebrate Recovery suits their needs and circumstances.
Celebrate Recovery Serenity Prayer
12 Steps are further enhanced by the support and teachings of the 8 Principles. The eight principles encompass the instructions and direction of the 12 Steps. The 8 Principles are based upon the Beatitudes, and like the 12 Steps, they help offer personal insight and guidance towards recovery and direction within their faith.
The Beatitudes are Bible teachings and are found in the Book of Matthew. They are teachings that Jesus spoke about during his Sermon on the Mount. They declare how to follow the Lord to find salvation and peace while you contend with the adversities you might face during your time on earth. Some people may struggle with finding their meaning and equating it to recovery. Warren acknowledges this: “From a conventional viewpoint, most of these statements didn’t make sense. They sounded like contradictions.”
His passion for a faith-filled recovery led him to resolve and bridge this gap, ensuring people could make sense and purpose from these verses. For Christians, the Beatitudes are a unique tool and gift the Bible offers. With the correct teaching and spiritual direction, they can very clearly and effectively help direct a person in stewardship towards God, which helps to further direct and guide them within their recovery.
Here is an example of a Celebrate Recovery prayer:
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
I confess that I am powerless over my addictions and compulsive behaviors and that my life has become unmanageable. I need your help, Lord, to overcome these struggles and find true healing and freedom.
Please guide me as I work through the 12 steps and the eight principles of Celebrate Recovery. Help me be honest with myself, others, and you about my struggles and progress.
Thank you for your unconditional love and grace and the hope and strength you provide as I walk this path of recovery. I surrender myself to your care and control and trust in your plan for my life.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
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Celebrate Recovery Near Me Today
Treatment should be a healthy combination of proven medical practices and spiritual discovery. The We Level Up treatment center aims for people seeking help to have the opportunity to overcome their addiction problems with evidence-based therapies and medications. So, start your journey to an addiction-free life. Are you searching for “Celebrating Recovery near me” or “Celebrate Recovery Jacksonville FL?” Start by connecting to your local resources. You may call us at We Level Up for 12-step programs and other mental health and addiction treatment resources.
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As such, we are pleased to offer our treatment programs (individual counseling, group therapy, and 12-Step program meetings similar to Celebrate Recovery) at the same facility. This means less headache and hassle for our clients, who can spend more time focusing on improving and developing coping skills for effective relapse prevention. Contact us today at We Level Up. We can help you explore treatment options.
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“The Difference Today Is That I Have Hope.” Finding Peace Through Addiction Recovery & Sobriety
Sobriety can be a very fulfilling and rewarding experience. Many people who have struggled with addiction find that when they get sober, they can fully engage in their lives and enjoy the little things they may have missed out on. Without the haze of drugs or alcohol, individuals can better connect with their loved ones, pursue their passions, and discover new hobbies and interests. They can also experience life’s natural highs, such as the joy of a good conversation, the beauty of a sunset, or the sense of accomplishment from completing a task.
Sobriety also offers the opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery. Individuals can work through past traumas and negative behavior patterns and better understand themselves and their place in the world.
Celebrate Recovery programs often offer a variety of fun and engaging activities for members and new participants to enjoy. These activities provide a positive and healthy outlet for individuals to connect with others and engage in sober activities.
Some examples of fun activities that Celebrate Recovery programs may offer include the following:
- Outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, or kayaking.
- Creative activities include art classes, writing workshops, and making Celebrate Recovery shirts.
- Group outings to movies, concerts, sporting events, or watching the “Skit Guys Celebrate Recovery.”
- Game nights, where participants can play board games or card games with each other.
- Exercise classes such as yoga or fitness boot camps.
- Potluck dinners, where participants can bring and share their favorite healthy dishes.
In addition to these activities, Celebrate Recovery programs often offer support groups, Bible studies, and other opportunities for personal growth and spiritual development.
Addiction Recovery Testimonial
“Do you feel like you’re way closer or a lot closer to like, you know, knowing who you are, what makes you happy, what fulfills you, all that stuff?
I mean, I feel like it’s a work in progress, but the difference today is that I have hope that I will be able to figure these things out and that I can get through any situation life throws at me. I’m a lot more at peace with myself.
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to label who I am, but I’m growing, and that’s the most important thing for me today.”
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Sources
[1] Celebrate Recovery 12 Steps Program- https://www.celebraterecovery.com/
[2] Treatment Statistics – National Institute on Drug Abuse
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[5] Kelly JF, Abry A, Ferri M, Humphreys K. Alcoholics Anonymous and 12-Step Facilitation Treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Distillation of a 2020 Cochrane Review for Clinicians and Policy Makers. Alcohol Alcohol. 2020 Oct 20;55(6):641-651. DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agaa050. PMID: 32628263; PMCID: PMC8060988.
[6] Krentzman AR, Robinson EA, Moore BC, Kelly JF, Laudet AB, White WL, Zemore SE, Kurtz E, Strobbe S. How Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Work: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives. Alcohol Treat Q. 2010 Dec;29(1):75-84. DOI 10.1080/07347324.2011.538318. PMID: 21785524; PMCID: PMC3140338.
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[8] Substance Abuse Treatment: Group Therapy [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2005. (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 41.) 1 Groups and Substance Abuse Treatment. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64223/
[9] Gray C, Argaez C. Residential Treatment for Substance Use Disorder: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2019 Jan 4. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541232/
[10] Moos RH, Moos BS, Andrassy JM. Outcomes of four treatment approaches in community residential programs for patients with substance use disorders. Psychiatr Serv. 1999 Dec;50(12):1577-83. DOI: 10.1176/ps.50.12.1577. PMID: 10577876.