Understanding the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions
An educational introduction to the principles commonly associated with Twelve-Step recovery fellowships and their approach to personal recovery, mutual support and fellowship.
What are the 12 Steps?
The Twelve Steps are a set of principles used by Alcoholics Anonymous and adapted by a number of other recovery fellowships. They provide a framework for personal reflection, accountability, spiritual growth, making amends and continuing recovery.
The Twelve Steps
The following descriptions provide a plain-language overview of the traditional Twelve-Step framework.
Recognising the Problem
Acknowledging that addiction has become difficult to control and recognising the need for help.
Hope for Recovery
Developing a belief that recovery is possible with appropriate support and guidance.
Making a Commitment
Becoming willing to place recovery at the centre of one’s decisions and actions.
Self-Examination
Taking an honest and careful look at one’s experiences, behaviour, relationships and patterns.
Sharing Honestly
Discussing one’s personal inventory honestly with another trusted person or appropriate support figure.
Readiness for Change
Becoming willing to recognise harmful patterns and work toward meaningful personal change.
Seeking Help
Developing humility and seeking support in addressing behaviours and patterns that interfere with recovery.
Making a List
Identifying people who may have been affected by one’s behaviour and developing a willingness to make appropriate amends.
Making Amends
Taking responsible action to repair relationships where appropriate, while avoiding further harm.
Continuing Self-Reflection
Regularly reviewing one’s behaviour and acknowledging mistakes when they occur.
Developing Inner Awareness
Seeking greater awareness, reflection and connection with one’s values and spiritual or personal principles.
Living the Principles
Applying the principles of recovery in everyday life and sharing recovery-oriented support with others.
The Twelve Traditions
The Twelve Traditions describe principles traditionally used to guide fellowship structure, unity, service and relationships with the wider community.
Unity
The common welfare of the fellowship is placed alongside individual recovery, with unity considered important to collective wellbeing.
Group Conscience
Group decisions are guided by a collective conscience rather than personal authority.
Membership
The traditional principle places the desire to stop drinking at the centre of membership in Alcoholics Anonymous.
Group Autonomy
Individual groups generally have autonomy while remaining mindful of decisions that could affect other groups or the fellowship as a whole.
Primary Purpose
The fellowship’s primary purpose is to carry its recovery message to people who still need it.
Outside Affiliations
The fellowship traditionally avoids endorsing or financing outside enterprises in ways that could compromise its identity or purpose.
Self-Support
Fellowship groups traditionally support themselves through their own contributions rather than relying on outside financial support.
Non-Professional Fellowship
Twelve-Step fellowship work is traditionally carried out through members supporting one another rather than functioning as a professional treatment service.
Organisation
The fellowship traditionally avoids excessive organisational structure while maintaining service arrangements necessary for effective functioning.
Outside Issues
The fellowship traditionally avoids taking positions on outside controversial issues so that its primary purpose remains clear.
Public Relations
Public communication traditionally emphasises attraction rather than promotion while protecting the anonymity of individual members.
Anonymity
Anonymity is traditionally regarded as an important spiritual principle, placing principles before personalities.
Steps and Traditions: What’s the Difference?
The 12 Steps
The Steps primarily describe a personal recovery framework. They focus on recognising the problem, developing willingness to change, examining one’s behaviour, repairing harm and continuing personal growth.
The 12 Traditions
The Traditions primarily describe how a Twelve-Step fellowship functions collectively. They address unity, group responsibility, service, independence, public communication and anonymity.
How These Principles Can Relate to Recovery
Recovery is not necessarily a single event. For many people it is an ongoing process involving personal responsibility, behavioural change, support networks, healthy routines and continued care.
Twelve-Step participation is one approach used by some people in recovery. It should not be presented as the only pathway to recovery. Professional assessment, counselling, medical care, psychological support, family involvement and other evidence-informed approaches may also form part of an individual’s recovery plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the 12 Steps a medical treatment?
Are the 12 Steps only for alcohol addiction?
Do all rehabilitation programmes use the 12 Steps?
Can family members support someone in recovery?
Does recovery end after rehabilitation?
Where can someone seek help?
Looking for Recovery Support?
Understanding addiction and recovery is an important first step. Families and individuals can seek appropriate professional guidance based on their circumstances.
Contact Sunrise Foundation