LifeRing Secular recovery
Summary
LifeRing Secular Recovery is a community that shares practical experiences and mutual support to help people achieve sobriety. Unlike programs involving steps or higher powers, LifeRing believes each person is best suited to design their recovery plan. The program recognizes many paths to recovery, and members are encouraged to find what works best for them. LifeRing emphasizes self-empowerment and strengthening the “Sober Self” while weakening the “Addict Self.”
The organization provides a supportive network and resources like meetings, online tools, and publications, enabling individuals to succeed in their journey to a substance-free life. Meetings — both in-person and online — offer advice, encouragement, and support, focusing on present-day challenges rather than past issues.
Website
Addictions Treated
All Substances and Behaviors (Focus on Substances)
Orientation
Secular
Overview
Founded in 1997, LifeRing Secular Recovery is an evidence-based, global network that helps individuals recover from substance use through peer support, personal growth, and self-empowerment. The organization encourages members to craft their recovery paths, focusing on sobriety, secularity, and self-direction.
LifeRing’s approach integrates various treatment methods, making it compatible with many therapeutic models. Drawing from practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), LifeRing provides a flexible, pragmatic, and eclectic framework for recovery.
LifeRing Recovery welcomes individuals of all faiths as well as those with no religious affiliation. To ensure respect for everyone, LifeRing meetings are conducted in a secular manner, avoiding prayer and religious discussions. LifeRing offers in-person meetings throughout the US and there are hundreds of meetings globally, as well as online meetings throughout the world.
Core Text
Empowering Your Sober Self by Martin Nicolaus
Principles, Strategies, and Tools
Abstinence
LifeRing has only one guiding rule: Don’t drink or use, no matter what.
The “Three S” Principles
- Sobriety: Achieving wellness through abstinence from alcohol and other drugs, unless medically necessary and used as prescribed (e.g., medication-assisted treatment or pain management).
- Secularity: LifeRing respects all beliefs by keeping meetings secular, avoiding prayer or religious discussion. Instead, the focus is on behavioral modification and strengthening the “Sober Self” through group support and evidence-based recovery methods.
- Self-Direction: Members are empowered to take control of their recovery by deciding what works best for them. Through meetings and peer connections, individuals are encouraged to build their recovery on their own terms, with support from the LifeRing community.
Evidence Based
LifeRing Secular Recovery operates on evolving, evidence-based motivational principles that align with the science of recovery.
Self-Empowerment
LifeRing fosters self-empowerment by providing a supportive environment for members to create and maintain their personal recovery journeys.