SMART Recovery (Self-Management and Recovery Training)
“I went to my first SMART recovery meeting – and that was when I stopped drinking. We had a commitment to each other that made the whole experience much more workable… I also got trained as a SMART recovery facilitator and now I lead meetings.”
“I first went to Sophia Recovery about five years ago just before COVID. I went for over a year to the satellite location they set up in St. Andrews. I looked forward to it every week. It was a great way to connect with other women. The A.A. meetings in St. Andrews were a bunch of older men, and I knew that I wanted to share stuff that I wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing in front of them, because they wouldn’t relate to it, and might even judge it. In the Sophia group, we chatted throughout the week, we’d go out to eat together. That was really good for me, to have that outlet, and eventually two women in my family in their own recovery journey came with me. There was community within my own family in recovery.”
“I started coming here pretty regularly, doing the women’s groups and meeting other addicts in here. Basically, just connecting with other women. When you’re in a space with people that have the same morals, values, and goals, it makes it so much easier to push away that shame and remind yourself that you’re not a bad person. You’re not alone. You did something wrong, but you didn’t wake up in the morning one day and say, “I’m gonna be an addict.”
“Connection is the opposite of addiction. When I walked into Sophia, I saw a group of women who were suffering just like I was, and they were open, honest and willing to do whatever they needed to get clean. That gave me motivation so that I can maintain my recovery. Every time one of those women shared their story of addiction and recovery, it reminded me of where I was and [where I] didn’t wanna be.”