Lesson 1
Introduction: Codependency And The Twelve Steps
In this first lesson, we'll introduce The Twelve Steps and how their principles can apply to codependency, rescuing, people-pleasing, and over-functioning. We'll also begin examining our relationships with control, responsibility, acceptance, and letting go.
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Lesson 2
Step One: Recognizing Powerlessness And Unmanageability
Step One is: “We admitted that we were powerless over others, and that our lives had become unmanageable.”
In this lesson, we'll explore what it means to recognize our powerlessness over other people's choices, emotions, and behaviors. We'll examine how our attempts to control, fix, or rescue others can impact our own well-being and lead to unmanageability.
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Lesson 3
Step Two: Finding Hope Beyond Our Own Control
Step Two is: “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
In this lesson, we'll explore the role of faith, spirituality, and hope in the process of letting go of control. We'll examine what it means to believe in something greater than ourselves, whether spiritual, religious, nature, or really anything outside of your own control, and how this belief can help us develop trust and openness to change.
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Lesson 4
Step Three: Turning It Over And Releasing Control
Step Three is: “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God.”
In this lesson, we'll explore what it means to practice surrender, release control, and trust something beyond ourselves. We'll examine what it means to "turn it over" and how we can apply this tool to our stressors, creating space for greater peace and acceptance.
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Lesson 5
Step Four: Taking An Honest Look At Ourselves
Step Four is: “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”
In this lesson, we'll explore what it means to take an honest inventory of our resentments, fears, and patterns without judgment or shame. We'll examine how self-reflection can help us recognize our role in unhealthy dynamics, better understand ourselves, and begin making meaningful changes.
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Lesson 6
Step Five: Practicing Honesty And Vulnerability
Step Five is: “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”
In this lesson, we'll explore the importance of honesty, vulnerability, and sharing our experiences with someone we trust. We'll examine how acknowledging our patterns, mistakes, and fears without shame or self-condemnation can help us develop greater self-acceptance, connection, and emotional freedom.
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Lesson 7
Step Six: Becoming Willing To Let Go Of Old Patterns
Step Six is: “Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”
In this lesson, we'll explore what it means to become willing to release the patterns, beliefs, and behaviors that no longer serve us. We'll look at how "defects" and "shortcomings" are really old wounds, and at reframing narratives that keep us in shame cycles.
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Lesson 8
Step Seven: Practicing Humility And Acceptance
Step Seven is: “Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.”
In this lesson, we'll explore what it means to practice humility, acceptance, and self-compassion as we continue to grow and change. We'll examine how acknowledging our limitations, asking for help, and releasing the need to be perfect can help us develop a healthier relationship with ourselves.
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Lesson 9
Step Eight: Recognizing Our Impact On Others
Step Eight is: “Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.”
In this lesson, we'll explore what it means to recognize how our behaviors, even those rooted in good intentions, may have impacted others and ourselves. We'll examine how becoming willing to make amends can help us move forward without getting stuck in shame.
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Lesson 10
Step Nine: Making Amends
Step Nine is: “Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”
In this lesson, we'll explore what it means to make amends, take accountability, and repair relationships without abandoning ourselves in the process or over-apologizing. We'll examine the difference between apologizing and changing our behavior, and recognizing when direct amends may cause more harm than good.
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Lesson 11
Step Ten: Practicing Ongoing Self-Awareness
Step Ten is: “Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.”
In this lesson, we'll explore how to practice ongoing self-reflection through inventory, accountability, and awareness in our everyday lives. We'll examine how regularly checking in with ourselves, recognizing old patterns as they arise, and taking responsibility for our actions can help us continue growing without getting caught in shame or perfectionism.
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Lesson 12
Step Eleven: Cultivating Stillness And Inner Guidance
Step Eleven is: “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”
In this lesson, we'll explore how prayer, meditation, and mindfulness can help us deepen our connection with ourselves and something greater than ourselves. We'll examine how practicing stillness and setting intentions or praying can help us cultivate greater trust, clarity, and acceptance.
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Lesson 13
Step Twelve: Living The Principles And Letting Others Live
Step Twelve is: “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”
In this final lesson, we'll explore what it means to put the principles of the Twelve Steps into practice in our everyday lives. We'll examine how we can support others without rescuing them, practice compassion without self-abandonment, and continue growing through awareness, acceptance, and intentional action.
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Lesson 14
Final Session: Living the Twelve Steps
In this final lesson, we'll recap the Twelve Steps (paraphrasing the language) and reflect on what we've learned. We'll explore how to continue applying these principles in our everyday lives, recognizing that growth is an ongoing practice rather than a destination.
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