This episode was originally published on September 7th, 2011. 
 
After years attending AA meetings people when people leave sometimes feel alone and unsupported. Monica shares how she and many others deal with being iced out, gaslit and ostracized after believing a community was like your family and your closest friends are now your enemy.

This episode was originally published on September 7th, 2011. After years attending AA meetings people when people leave sometimes feel alone and unsupported. Monica shares how she and many others deal with being iced out, gaslit and ostracized after believing a community was like your family and your closest friends are now your enemy.

Life Beyond 12 Step Meetings: Why I Left, Why You Left

Safe Recovery is a new series examining predatory behavior, power dynamics, and cultural issues inside 12 step meetings and the broader recovery industry.
Our mission is simple: Empowerment — not powerlessness.
This show explores modern, ethical, evidence-based, and spiritually diverse approaches to alcohol and drug overuse. We discuss alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous and traditional 12 step programs, while supporting authors, clinicians, and advocates who are creating new pathways to healing.
Safe Recovery highlights:
• Alternatives to AA • Recovery without powerlessness • SMART Recovery and cognitive-based approaches • Moderation and harm reduction • Secular and spiritual healing models • Addiction treatment reform • Protecting vulnerable people in recovery spaces
We believe people deserve informed choice.
Sobriety, moderation, or a different path entirely — empowerment means you choose what works for your life.
Americans deserve recovery models rooted in dignity, autonomy, accountability, and evidence — not shame or coercion.
Safe Recovery is about building a culture of informed recovery, personal responsibility, and real healing.

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Safe Recovery is a new series examining predatory behavior, power dynamics, and cultural issues inside 12 step meetings and the broader recovery industry. Our mission is simple: Empowerment — not powerlessness. This show explores modern, ethical, evidence-based, and spiritually diverse approaches to alcohol and drug overuse. We discuss alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous and traditional 12 step programs, while supporting authors, clinicians, and advocates who are creating new pathways to healing. Safe Recovery highlights: • Alternatives to AA• Recovery without powerlessness• SMART Recovery and cognitive-based approaches• Moderation and harm reduction• Secular and spiritual healing models• Addiction treatment reform• Protecting vulnerable people in recovery spaces We believe people deserve informed choice. Sobriety, moderation, or a different path entirely — empowerment means you choose what works for your life. Americans deserve recovery models rooted in dignity, autonomy, accountability, and evidence — not shame or coercion. Safe Recovery is about building a culture of informed recovery, personal responsibility, and real healing.

Safe Recovery is a new series examining predatory behavior, power dynamics, and cultural issues inside 12 step meetings and the broader recovery industry.
Our mission is simple: Empowerment — not powerlessness.
This show explores modern, ethical, evidence-based, and spiritually diverse approaches to alcohol and drug overuse. We discuss alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous and traditional 12 step programs, while supporting authors, clinicians, and advocates who are creating new pathways to healing.
Safe Recovery highlights:
• Alternatives to AA • Recovery without powerlessness • SMART Recovery and cognitive-based approaches • Moderation and harm reduction • Secular and spiritual healing models • Addiction treatment reform • Protecting vulnerable people in recovery spaces
We believe people deserve informed choice.
Sobriety, moderation, or a different path entirely — empowerment means you choose what works for your life.
Americans deserve recovery models rooted in dignity, autonomy, accountability, and evidence — not shame or coercion.
Safe Recovery is about building a culture of informed recovery, personal responsibility, and real healing.

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Life Beyond 12 Step Meetings: Why I Left, Why You Left

Life Beyond 12 Step Meetings: Why I Left, Why You Left