Every person’s recovery looks different. During my training to be a state board-certified recovery coach, I learned that there are multiple pathways to recovery and that every person should be given the opportunity to design their own recovery journey. If you’re early in recovery or getting bored in your recovery, I recommend that you work with a recovery coach to create a wellness recovery action plan. And stick to it! 

A wellness plan monitors our recovery along eight areas. Those areas are: 

  1. Connectedness to the Recovery Community
  2. Physical
  3. Emotional 
  4. Spiritual 
  5. Living Arrangements
  6. Work / Education
  7. Family & Relationships
  8. Daily Living Management

I’ve provided a comprehensive list of pathways that you can use to design your own beautiful recovery. Make it special and make it your own.

Pathways to Recovery

Acupuncture

Amino Acid (rebuild transmitters)

Art (dance, music, writing)

Animal-assisted therapy (Equine, Canine)

Bodywork (Yoga, Massage)

Biofeedback

Community Service

Criminal Justice (incarceration, drug court)

Education

Employment

Faith-based Recovery

Fitness

Holistic (mind, body, spirit)

Hypnotherapy

Inpatient Treatment

Journaling

Medication Assisted Treatment

Meditation & Prayer

Mindful-based Relapse Prevention (people, places, things)

Mutual Aid Groups (12 step & non-12 step)

Natural Recovery (self-managed/solo)

Neurofeedback 

Outdoor Wilderness Therapy

Outpatient Treatment

Peer-Based (coaches)

Psychotherapy

Risk Reduction

Spiritual-Based (shamanic healing; Recovery Dharma, formerly Refuge Recovery)

Wellness Recovery Action Plan

Patrick Boze
Patrick Boze