SMART Recovery Meetings

Getting the Basics on SMART Recovery

When it comes to drug and alcohol abuse, several forms of group therapy and support systems exist that are highly effective during the treatment phase and post-treatment phase. The 12-Step Recovery program is among the most popular, despite its age.

SMART Recovery is another form of peer support for people seeking recovery and helps to maintain motivation after they’ve finalized their individual treatment process. At Resurgence Texas, we help clients find resources for SMART Recovery meetings to help them maintain success during the post-treatment stages of their recovery journey.

If you’ve ever been curious about the recovery process and the SMART program, this article highlights the details regarding SMART Recovery meetings and much more!

The History of the SMART Recovery Program

The goal of SMART Recovery is to help clients successfully recover from substance abuse and lead a balanced life, allowing them to engage in self-management during the post-treatment stages of recovery. It utilizes a non-confrontational approach that includes cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational methods. It’s likely the most popular alternative to the 12-Steps approach to recovery.

Unlike AA, SMART Recovery doesn’t consider addiction to be a disease, but instead a dysfunctional habit influenced by certain external elements. It also doesn’t encourage individuals to use the concept of a higher power or admit they have no control over the management of their addiction.

The Origins of SMART Recovery

SMART Recovery originated with a group called RR (Rational Recovery). The founder, Jack Trimpey, ultimately decided to turn RR into a for-profit business.

Other members of the board disagreed with this decision and subsequently broke away to form their own recovery support system, otherwise known as SMART Recovery. Initially known as Alcohol and Drug Abuse Self-Help Network (ADASHN) during the group’s inception in 1992, they would eventually be incorporated as SMART Recovery in 1994.

What Does SMART Recovery Stand For?

The SMART in SMART Recovery is an acronym for Self Management and Recovery Training. It’s through this recovery training that members learn to lead a balanced life by managing thoughts and using science-based motivation and group support during recovery meetings.

During a SMART Recovery meeting, which exists as online meetings or face-to-face events, participants employ the 4-Point Program, or Four Points – all part of what’s known as the SMART Toolbox. Through various behavioral techniques, SMART meetings help to provide motivation for those who attend.

Explaining the Four P’s of the SMART Recovery Model

Because the SMART Recovery model is science or evidence-based, it’s stated on the website that this form of treatment is constantly evolving based on discoveries regarding the science of drug or alcohol addiction. However, the program currently focuses on the Four P’s of recovery during meetings. These four elements include:

1. Building and Maintaining Motivation
2. Coping with Urges
3. Managing Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors
4. Living a Balanced Life

“The Smart Toolbox” is a method of evidence-based practices that addresses the Four P’s during meetings and the life of those who join the groups. These methods may be employed during a SMART meeting face-to-face, or during the participant’s life outside of meetings through personal focus to help overcome addiction or through work with a professional counselor.

The methods used from the “Smart Toolbox” include different forms of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, and Motivational Enhancement Therapy.

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

REBT aims to help individuals cope with situations that can trigger negative feelings – depression, stress, and other mentally taxing thought patterns are included. This treatment also teaches those involved that it’s not realistic to expect success 100% of the time. It’s a form of “trial and error” therapy that teaches clients to learn from negative situations and move on with a better understanding of what to do the next time the same or similar situation occurs.

A rational-emotional behavior therapist may help you identify the triggers that are contributing to your feelings of anxiety and depression. They may also suggest ways to modify your beliefs regarding these feelings.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps clients identify certain negative behaviors and thoughts that lead to them engaging in alcohol or drug abuse. With the help of a therapist or mentor, they learn newer, and more positive behaviors and thoughts to replace the negative ones, leading to a reduction in the use of drugs or alcohol.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy

This type of therapy uses a client-centered approach and is designed to improve the motivation of individuals who are struggling with their own destructive habits. Although many people who engage in destructive behavior acknowledge the negative effects of their actions, they often have little motivation to deviate from these behaviors.

MET is focused on helping individuals overcome the fight they’re putting up toward positive change or behavior modification. It also aims to increase your motivation by developing a more positive mindset and adjusting negative thoughts about the problem.

Instead of being told what to do, you’re encouraged to develop your own solutions for positive change.

How Does SMART Recovery Differ from the 12-Step Model?

AA believes that a Higher Power is required to achieve success in the 12-step model and recovery in general. On the other hand, SMART uses a scientific and evidence-based approach. Although both methods have the same goal of helping you recover from substance abuse, SMART focuses more on self-empowerment while AA focuses on spiritual growth.

The meetings are also structured differently when comparing the two programs. At an AA meeting, only one person takes the floor at a time. They stand up and describe their experiences or share a story regarding their addiction and how it’s affected their life. During SMART recovery meetings, there’s more of a collaborative environment, and participants are given the opportunity to join one another for engaging and open discussion. Those who attend may discuss a broad range of topics with regarding addiction, urges, the effectiveness of certain treatments, and new scientific breakthroughs for substance abuse treatment.

Is SMART Recovery an Alternative to the 12 Steps?

Many people in recovery form the opinion that SMART Recovery is an alternative to the 12 steps. However, a large number of participants look at SMART Recovery as a supplemental form of healing that complements the 12 steps.

Because one is rooted in spiritual healing and the other is rooted in science, the two can essentially be used to cater to both sides of those who use them. These two are almost involved in the same dynamic as the argument regarding holistic treatment vs. evidence-based treatment – used together in the right manner, they can both be powerful strategies that lead to long-term recovery.

Experience Succesful Recovery and Aftercare With SMART Recovery and Resurgence Texas

At Resurgence Texas, we offer meetings and therapy sessions that involve both the 12-Step model and the SMART Recovery model. Whether you choose one or both as a means to maintain your sobriety, Resurgence Texas can help you locate resources for both post-treatment, and help you acclimate to both during our time here.

For more information about our program and how you can become a success story, contact a member of our admissions team today.