This podcast is going to be an exploration of why the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are so powerful and how they help to transform people’s lives. As an individual who’s recovered from addiction, as someone who’s received a plethora of ‘mental health care’ via psychotherapy, psychiatry, and mindfulness practices, and now as a practicing psychotherapist, I hold the 12-steps with gratitude, admiration, and honour. As with any model o f personal development, in AA, there are gaps, barriers, and shortcomings that often impede people from opening up to the principles and practices that will guide them toward healing and wellbeing. AA is not perfect. Nevertheless, it is rooted in ancient wisdom and spiritual practices that are consistent across many forms of spiritual endeavours. Today’s guest Tony, A is a living example of the life transforming qualities of the 12-step program and we are going to do a thorough analysis into the 12-steps and 12-traditions of the program. This is part 1 of this exploration.

The principles we cover today are, honesty, hope, faith, courage, integrity, willingness and humility.