Wellbriety 12 Steps
Table of Contents Seeking Drug Or Alcohol Detox? Sullivan Recovery is a leading drug and alcohol detox in Mission Viejo, California. Call Today! Clinically Reviewed By: Rachel Sweet | LMFT Wellbriety 12 Steps: A Native American Path to Sobriety, Healing, and Hope The Wellbriety 12 Steps offer a spiritual and cultural pathway to recovery that blends traditional Native American teachings with proven addiction recovery principles. Developed by Don Coyhis, founder of White Bison, this step program integrates the medicine wheel, prayer, forgiveness, and community healing to help individuals overcome substance abuse, alcohol, and drug addictions. Rooted in Native American values, the Wellbriety 12 Steps focus on health, mental health, sobriety, and reconnecting the mind, body, and spirit to the tribe and self. This recovery model promotes hope, honesty, and faith as vital tools for transformation. It draws on cultural strength to heal the generational wounds that contribute to relapse, emotional distress, and substance abuse. At Sullivan Recovery, we recognize how combining ancient wisdom with modern therapy supports deep, long-term sobriety and holistic health. What Are the Wellbriety 12 Steps? The Wellbriety 12 Steps follow the structure of traditional 12-step programs but are grounded in Native American beliefs and cultural teachings. Each step builds on values like honesty, humility, courage, and faith. These steps integrate spiritual healing with emotional restoration. The focus is not only on stopping substance abuse, but on restoring balance to the mind, body, and spirit. The process invites individuals to embrace prayer, practice meditation, and find strength in their tribe and community as they rebuild mental health, overcome alcohol and drug dependency, and reduce the risk of relapse. The Medicine Wheel as a Guide The medicine wheel is central to the Wellbriety 12 Steps. It symbolizes the four aspects of human nature—spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical. Recovery begins by identifying where imbalance exists and using the teachings of the wheel to restore health and harmony. The wheel also supports a deeper understanding of how substance abuse, drug addiction, and alcohol use disorder affect the whole person. Through ceremonies, prayer, meditation, and reflection, the medicine wheel guides individuals to find inner wisdom, reclaim their sobriety, and reconnect with community and tribal roots. Step One: Honesty and Courage Honesty is the first step, where individuals admit their struggles with drug or alcohol use. Telling the truth takes courage, especially when confronting deep-rooted pain. By being honest, individuals start to rebuild trust and self-respect. This opens the door to healing and long-term sobriety. Steps Two and Three: Hope and Faith Hope gives people the belief that change is possible. In the Wellbriety 12 Steps, faith is about trusting a higher power, your tribe, and yourself. Don Coyhis emphasized that without hope, healing cannot begin. These steps build the spiritual foundation needed for recovery from substance abuse and mental health issues. Forgiveness and Humility in the Healing Process Letting go of anger and guilt is key. Forgiveness clears the emotional path for recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Humility follows, helping individuals acknowledge past mistakes. This creates space for deeper connections with community, family, and the tribe. Meditation and Wisdom for Recovery Through daily meditation, individuals gain clarity and peace. It helps reconnect the mind and spirit. Over time, this leads to wisdom—the ability to make healthy choices and avoid relapse. Meditation supports the emotional and mental strength needed for lasting sobriety. Don Coyhis: The Founder of Wellbriety Don Coyhis, of the Mohican Nation, created the Wellbriety 12 Steps to address the cycle of substance abuse in Native American communities. His vision blended cultural teachings with recovery tools grounded in faith, forgiveness, and the medicine wheel. He emphasized the power of tribe, prayer, and spiritual teachings in overcoming alcohol and drug dependence. Coyhis believed that healing required addressing mental health, restoring the mind, and building sobriety through honesty, humility, and courage. His work continues to inspire individuals seeking hope and wellness through a culturally rooted step program. The Role of Community and Tribe Healing happens in community, not isolation. The Wellbriety 12 Steps recognize the power of tribe in restoring emotional and spiritual health, especially when facing alcohol, drug, and substance abuse issues. At Sullivan Recovery, we promote this by offering group support, cultural respect, and shared healing spaces. These environments encourage honesty, strengthen mental health, and reduce relapse risks by fostering connection and hope within a recovery-based community.. Prayer and Spiritual Connection Prayer is used for guidance, strength, and focus. It’s a vital part of the Wellbriety 12 Steps, bringing individuals closer to their Creator or higher power while supporting sobriety and emotional balance. Incorporating Native American ceremonies, meditation, and spiritual rituals strengthens a person’s sense of identity and purpose in recovery. These practices help align the mind, body, and spirit, promote forgiveness, and provide the spiritual courage needed to heal from substance abuse, alcohol, and drug addiction. Avoiding Relapse Through Balance The Wellbriety 12 Steps aim to prevent relapse by addressing the full self—body, mind, spirit, and emotion. This includes spiritual practices like prayer, meditation, and ceremonies, emotional healing through forgiveness, and lifestyle change built on hope and honesty. By aligning with the medicine wheel, people restore mental health, gain courage, and maintain sobriety through balance. These teachings help individuals resist urges to return to alcohol, drug use, or the destructive patterns of substance abuse. Giving Back with Humility and Service Later steps in the program emphasize service to others, a practice that promotes humility and supports sustained sobriety. Sharing one’s experience helps reinforce core values like faith, honesty, and wisdom. By giving back to the tribe or community, individuals heal old wounds, reduce isolation, and deepen their connection to purpose. Service becomes a spiritual act that strengthens both personal recovery and mental health. Living with Wisdom and Sobriety The final steps promote lifelong spiritual growth through consistent action and reflection. As individuals walk the Wellbriety 12 Steps, they gain wisdom, self-respect, and the ability to live each day with faith, courage, and forgiveness. Living the Wellbriety way
Wellbriety Online Meetings
Table of Contents Seeking Drug Or Alcohol Detox? Sullivan Recovery is a leading drug and alcohol detox in Mission Viejo, California. Call Today! Clinically Reviewed By: Rachel Sweet | LMFT Wellbriety Online Meetings: Healing Through Culture and Connection Substance abuse affects every community, but Native American tribes face unique challenges. The concept of Wellbriety online meetings offers a culturally grounded path to recovery, blending tradition with modern tools. At Sullivan Recovery in Mission Viejo, California, we support this approach while offering outpatient treatment to those working toward sobriety and mental health. What Is Wellbriety? The Wellbriety Movement was started by Don Coyhis, a member of the Mohican Nation. His mission was to offer an Indigenous recovery path grounded in culture, values, and ceremony. Wellbriety means more than just sobriety—it calls for wellness in body, mind, and spirit. Wellbriety online meetings make these teachings accessible across the U.S. and Canada. Meetings focus on healing from addiction, grief, intergenerational trauma, and mental health challenges. Sullivan Recovery aligns with these healing principles, integrating therapy, group counseling, and peer support in our outpatient program. The Medicine Wheel: A Guide to Balance Central to Wellbriety is the Medicine Wheel, a spiritual and therapeutic symbol used by many Native American tribes. It represents the four directions—each linked to stages of life, elements, and healing. The wheel teaches balance in four areas: emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual health. At Sullivan Recovery, we use similar concepts in treating substance abuse, combining modern therapies with mindful, holistic practices. Clients can complement our care with meditation, journaling, and attending Wellbriety online meetings to support long-term recovery. Wellbriety and Native American Communities Substance abuse rates are higher in many Native American populations due to historical trauma, poverty, and limited access to care. Programs that ignore cultural identity often fail to reach tribal members. Wellbriety offers a solution that reconnects individuals with tradition. From Alaska to Arizona, South Dakota to New Mexico, communities gather in drum circles, talking circles, and now virtual meetings. The Puyallup Tribe of Indians, for example, has supported Wellbriety initiatives to improve health and reduce suicide prevention concerns among its members. Expanding Access Through Online Meetings Many people live in remote areas, such as Montana, Alberta, or Idaho, where in-person groups are limited. Wellbriety online meetings remove those barriers. Participants from Nevada, Minnesota, and even Ontario can attend healing circles from home. Online meetings follow a meeting schedule based on spiritual teachings and seasonal cycles. Sessions often include meditation, readings, and shared experiences. At Sullivan Recovery, we encourage clients to supplement our outpatient services with these meetings for ongoing support. Addiction, Grief, and Mental Health Addiction often goes hand in hand with trauma and grief. Many Wellbriety participants have experienced loss—whether from substance-related deaths, family disconnection, suicide, or historical violence. In Native American communities across South Dakota, Arizona, New Mexico, and Alberta, generational trauma continues to impact emotional well-being. This grief can fuel ongoing substance abuse if left untreated, often leading to mental health struggles or even the need for suicide prevention interventions. At Sullivan Recovery, we treat both addiction and emotional distress with outpatient therapy, trauma support, and wellness strategies. Our clients can strengthen healing by attending Wellbriety online meetings, practicing meditation, and exploring the medicine wheel teachings for emotional clarity and sobriety. From Prison to Healing Many people discover Wellbriety while incarcerated. The program is now active in multiple prison systems across the U.S. and Canada, including correctional facilities in Indiana, South Dakota, Alaska, and Ontario. These programs provide healing through drum circles, peer support, and cultural education. Inside prison, individuals learn to reflect on grief, restore identity, and begin recovery through the teachings of Don Coyhis. After release, they stay connected to this path through Wellbriety online meetings, outpatient treatment, and community support. At Sullivan Recovery, we work with those reentering society—offering structured care that promotes mental health, reduces relapse, and supports long-term sobriety through services that align with both modern and cultural recovery practices. Role of the United Methodist Church and Community Support Several United Methodist Church groups have embraced Wellbriety to support healing in tribal and non-tribal areas. These faith communities in San Diego, Nevada, Montana, and Arizona often help host Wellbriety online meetings, sponsor drum circles, and promote teachings from the medicine wheel for spiritual renewal. These churches also assist with suicide prevention, youth outreach, and addiction recovery programs that include grief counseling and meditation. At Sullivan Recovery, we recognize that community partnerships strengthen healing. Whether through churches, peer groups like Narcotics Anonymous, or tribal support from places like the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, we encourage every form of meaningful connection to combat substance abuse and restore health and purpose. Connection to Narcotics Anonymous Though different in format, Narcotics Anonymous and Wellbriety both offer peer-led healing through structured meetings and shared stories. Many clients benefit from attending both. Sullivan Recovery supports dual engagement in recovery groups. Whether someone is active in Narcotics Anonymous, Wellbriety online meetings, or both, we help them build a weekly recovery routine that includes group support, therapy, and life skills training. Suicide Prevention Through Culture and Support Suicide prevention is a major goal of the Wellbriety Movement. For many Native American youth and adults, loss of identity and cultural disconnection increase mental health risks. Incorporating tradition into recovery brings purpose, pride, and resilience. Through ceremony, storytelling, and drum circles, participants reconnect with their roots. Combined with outpatient mental health support from Sullivan Recovery, this dual approach promotes stability and hope. State and Tribal Participation Wellbriety meetings are growing rapidly in states like Arizona, Minnesota, Alaska, Nevada, and Indiana, where communities are embracing cultural healing. Tribes in Alberta, Ontario, and Montana are also actively involved, integrating the medicine wheel, meditation, and traditional practices to support sobriety. Groups supported by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians have seen measurable success in reducing substance abuse, addressing grief, and improving overall health outcomes. These efforts also contribute to suicide prevention, especially among youth. The broader vision is to build a sustainable, cross-state
