I had the opportunity to spend a day at Hanley Center in West Palm Beach yesterday. They are a nationally known addiction recovery center. Yesterday, they held their first "Clergy-in-Residence" program for area clergy. They introduced the basics of recovery as they see it at Hanley Center. You can see all my scribbled notes here.
I am fascinated by the work being done in 12 Step based recovery programs. I find it to be a rich spiritual path. Here are some things that jumped out at me, probably familiar to those more acquainted with recovery language and ideas than I.
From John Dyben, the clinical director (and a chaplain):
Four principles/values of recovery:
1. Compassion
There needs to be a lack of judgement in an interaction with an addict. Hanley's philosophy is that addiction is a disease and should be treated as such even though the behavior of the addict often illicits judgement from others. We don't judge; we can't fix; we "jump in and tread water with them."
2. Acceptance
Born out of humility on our part.
3. Dignity
From the Latin "worthy to be alive." No one is "throw away." As a result we engage/work with:
4. Excellence
From Jonathan Benz, chaplain, on "12 Step Spirituality":
We are all spiritual. There is healthy spirituality, characterized by connection, mindfulness, awareness, integration, quality relationship with self, others, God, and unhealthy spirituality, characterized by disconnection, unawareness, disintegration.
Guilt - Feeling bad about what one has done
Shame- Feeling bad about who one is
"A spiritual life defeats a life of spirits" Carl Jung (to Bill W., founder of AA)
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