ABSTRACT
12-Step spirituality is nested in a diversified, cross-cultural, quasi-religious context and distinguished by a vital spiritual awakening or new state of consciousness, which occurs through “working” the Steps (Sandoz, 2014). This approach is characterized by a reliance on a personally defined God or Higher Power and a joy of living, in which giving is its own reward (Dermatis and Galanter, 2015). Moreover, theorists developed 12-Step programs for individuals who do not struggle with addiction issues but simply want relief from the struggles of everyday life. In this chapter, the author explores the historical context of the 12-Step spiritual model, gives a full description of the steps and describes their respective spiritual substructures, including various practical applications of the model. Ways in which counselors can implement this approach in a spiritual and/or religious setting, a case example, and a concluding discussion section are provided.
