The 16 Steps to Empowerment:

An Alternative To 12-Step Programs

There are many clients and even therapists that find it very challenging to find a support group that fits the problem. Whether it is addiction or other concerns it can be difficult to find a group that works with a treatment plan.  Some clients will try a 12-step program and often convey that it was not a good fit, it’s just not working, or that they want an alternative to the 12-step model. Unfortunately there are minimal alternatives for clients. The 12-step programs have been the most widely used form of support for recovering addicts for years and have grown to include process addictions such as sex and love addiction.

The 12 Steps have made an incredible impact on the addiction field and have helped millions of people achieve and maintain sobriety all over the world. Some of the positive aspects include the support of the fellowship and sponsors, daily meetings in almost every country in the world and no requirements for membership other than the desire to stop using substances or stop problematic behavior.

But is there an alternative?

The alternative is The 16 Steps for Discovery and Empowerment model, based on the work of Dr. Charlotte Kasl, Ph.D., which provides people in recovery, especially women, with another way of looking at themselves and their role in society. According to Dr. Kasl, addiction is viewed as the complexity of social factors, physical, pre-disposition and personal history.  This empowerment model encourages individuals to develop their own internal belief system based on their perceptions and experiences. It believes that a major task of healing from addiction is to validate the underlying, positive survival goals for safety, connection, pleasure, love and power.  Then to find non-addictive and positive ways to meet those needs. It is also crucial to create a healthy physical balance to prevent relapse.

The 16-step model addresses issues of cultural diversity and internalized oppression that come from sexism, racism, classism, and homophobia.  In this model, the concept of “codependency” is understood as a form of internalized oppression, rather than an addiction to security, in a cultural context as well as an individual problem.  16-Steps to Empowerment Support Groups provide a safe and structured environment for women to become more whole, develop a passion for all of life, and learn techniques for transcending low self-esteem. The 16-step model encourages women to learn how to be authentic by enjoying their strengths, celebrating their creativity, letting go of shame and guilt, and trusting in their own inner wisdom.

The 16 Steps are as follows:

  1. We affirm we have the power to take charge of our lives and stop being dependent on substances or other people for our self-esteem and security.
  2. We come to believe that God / the Goddess/ Universe / Great Spirit / Higher Power awakens the healing wisdom within us when we open ourselves to that power.
  3. We make a decision to become our authentic selves and trust in the healing power of the truth.
  4. We examine our beliefs, addictions and dependent behavior in the context of living in a hierarchal, patriarchal culture.
  5. We share with another person and the Universe all those things inside of us for which we feel shame and guilt.
  6. We affirm and enjoy our strengths, talents and creativity, striving not to hide these qualities to protect others’ egos.
  7. We become willing to let go of shame, guilt, and any behavior that keeps us from loving ourselves and others.
  8. We make a list of people we have harmed and people who have harmed us, and take steps to clear out negative energy by making amends and sharing our grievances in a respectful way.
  9. We express love and gratitude to others, and increasingly appreciate the wonder of life and the blessings we do have.
  10. We continue to trust our reality and daily affirm that we see what we see, we know what we know, and we feel what we feel.
  11. We promptly acknowledge our mistakes and make amends when appropriate, but we do not cover up, analyze, or take responsibility for the shortcomings of others.
  12. We seek out situations, jobs and people that affirm our intelligence, perceptions and self-worth, and avoid situations or people who are hurtful, harmful or demeaning to us.
  13. We take steps to heal our physical bodies, organize our lives, reduce stress and have fun.
  14. We seek to find our inward calling, and develop the will and wisdom to follow it.
  15. We accept the ups and downs of life as natural events that can be used as lessons for our growth.
  16. We grow in awareness that we are interrelated with all living things, and we contribute to restoring peace and balance on the planet.

For therapists and clients who are familiar with the 12 Steps, it may be easy to see the differences in the 16 Steps.  For example, Step One of the 12 Steps tells us that we are “powerless” over our addiction, and that our lives have reached the point of becoming “unmanageable.”  In the 16 Steps, Step One of the assures us that we can, indeed, take control of our lives and that we do not have to depend or rely on anything external in order to feel better about ourselves.  For many clients, this is a new and refreshing concept. Step Two in the 12 Steps says that we must rely on an external higher force to “restore us to sanity,” which implies that we are “insane” before we agree to do this.  This is not an easy message for many people to accept.  In the 16 Steps, Step Two talks about the “healing wisdom” we all have inside of us and our choice to open ourselves to it.  This is a very different way of looking at life, the world and recovery from addiction in a hierarchical society.

The 16-Steps to Empowerment Group can be used with clients in recovery from addiction or with any issues because it also explores the dynamics of marginalized populations. Clients that are in the group will become familiar with each step week by week and write about it in a journal. The process of journaling is also important to help solidify what is being learned about oneself. The group will be encouraged to share their experiences with others if they are comfortable. Each client will be asked to explore a step and relate it to any current problems or concerns she may be facing.

For more information contact drchavez@sexualtreatmentprograms.com or call our office at (310) 286-1300.