12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous: 5 Benefits from the Steps of AA

Many people seeking spiritual growth or wellness have found benefit from working the 12 Steps of AA with a sponsor.

The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are a set of guiding principles designed to help individuals recover from addiction, build connections, and lead more honest and purposeful lives. These steps rely on similar strategies found in traditional psychotherapy and have their historical roots in spiritual traditions, although they are open to anyone regardless of their belief system.

Originally created for people struggling with alcohol use by founders Bill Wilson (Bill W.) and Dr. Bob Smith, these steps have since been adapted by various recovery programs and treatment programs addressing a wide range of issues—from drugs and food to relationships and emotional challenges. The meetings are held in community-based settings, such as churches or treatment centers, and can be accessed digitally worldwide.

Have 12-Step fellowships changed since the widespread use of virtual meetings?

Virtual recovery spaces, including AA meetings and other 12-Step fellowships, have removed barriers to recovery, connecting people across the world who might have been unsure or anxious about attending a meeting in person. More people than ever have discovered shared stories of hope and recovery through virtual platforms.

Women's Recovery Leadership Foundation

How Do the 12 Steps of AA Fit Into a Recovery Program?

A person may work the 12 Steps of AA while in a treatment center, in conjunction with an outpatient program, at the recommendation of a family member, or by seeking help through a helpline. The AA program strongly encourages working the steps alongside a sponsor.

Although everyone has a unique recovery journey, doing step work often goes hand in hand with reading the Big Book, joining a support group, and attending step meetings.

For many people, addiction comes with isolation, and healing truly begins in connection with others. Therefore, joining AA groups and attending meetings are highly encouraged to support one’s Twelve Step work.

The 12 Steps outline action-based principles that help individuals address their addiction(s) and grow spiritually. These steps work in harmony with the Twelve Traditions, which are guidelines that ensure group unity and focused functioning.

Richard Rohr’s book Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps, captures the essence of the 12 Steps:

We do not think ourselves into new ways of living, we live ourselves into new ways of thinking.

5 Benefits of AA

The following are a list of some of the benefits of working the 12-Steps. Please note that traditional 12 Step programs strongly encourage working the steps with the support and guidance of a sponsor.

1. Taking a Moral Inventory

Part of working the 12 Steps is taking a moral inventory, which involves looking deeply and honestly at oneself and becoming willing to let go of anything interfering with one’s growth.

This process involves acknowledging flaws, which can be painful and tedious. However, according to the AA program, it is essential for growth, change, healing, and recovery. By humbly letting go of negative behaviors and beliefs, we create space for new growth and improved relationships with others.

As a result of this work, done with the support of a sponsor or trusted mentor, people can develop greater tolerance, patience, kindness, and self-awareness, ultimately opening themselves up to the healing power of a Higher Power.

These benefits, based on the willingness to change, can bring a sense of peace and faith that touches all areas of one’s life.

2. Letting Go of Defects of Character

Another important part of the 12 Steps is the willingness to let go of character defects that hinder spiritual growth. Character defects often serve as coping mechanisms, ultimately preventing one from living authentically and practicing spiritual principles.

• By becoming aware of one’s character defects and developing an openness to change, people can begin to free themselves from self-destructive patterns and cultivate a readiness for transformation.
• This work is a lifelong commitment and practice that fuels one’s personal growth and connection with others.
• By becoming aware of these defects and opening ourselves to change, we begin to free ourselves from self-destructive patterns. This step requires humility and faith, which prepare us for deeper personal growth and connection with others. This step, like the other steps of AA, also requires the support of a sponsor and a recovery community.

Is there anyone who would not benefit from, or who could potentially be harmed by the 12 Steps of AA?

As clinicians, it’s our responsibility to screen individuals for group appropriateness, including 12-Step groups, recognizing that while they help many, they may not be suitable for everyone. In community-based peer support like AA, there’s often no formal screening, so it’s important to help individuals explore whether the approach aligns with their needs and experiences. Individuals with a history of religious trauma or those who prefer secular, non-spiritual models may find the spiritual emphasis challenging. Others may struggle with the language around powerlessness or the focus on moral inventory if they are also navigating trauma or self-worth issues. Everything in treatment and support has the potential for both benefit and harm, and to deny that would be to overlook the uniqueness of each person’s journey. Ultimately, one size does not fit all, and honoring that helps us provide more personalized, compassionate care.

Andrew Schreier, ICS, CSAC, LPC, ICGC-II, BACCCommunity Medical Services

3. Making Direct Amends

The importance of making amends is not meant to erase guilt, but rather to restore relationships and foster spiritual growth. Other important aspects of this step include:

• Making direct amends might feel intimidating, but it is one of the most transformative parts of the 12-Step program because it allows one to humbly practice forgiveness and accountability.
• This process can be challenging, and AA strongly encourages this work to be done in community with others, including a sponsor. Having guidance and support from people who have practiced this step, themselves, is key.
• Healing can happen through the process of making direct amends. Accepting and taking responsibility for “our side of the street” can not only restore relationships, but also our sense of self and peace.
• While this is an essential part of working the 12 Steps, there are instances when making amends can cause harm (either to ourselves or to someone else). Always consult with trusted support for guidance before taking this step.

4. Taking a Personal Inventory

Daily self-reflection and action are encouraged as part of the 12 Steps to maintain spiritual progress. We can commit to identifying and correcting missteps before they escalate, as well as fostering emotional balance and self-awareness.

• By staying committed to a practice of taking personal inventory, we can learn to promptly admit mistakes, learn from our behavior, and continue making necessary amends.
• As a result, we can strengthen our relationships and, in some cases, connection with a higher power and a more resilient recovery.

Are there some principles or steps in AA that are challenging from a trauma-informed lens?

One core element of trauma-informed care is empowerment. This may seem at odds with Step One, where one is called to accept their powerlessness over substance, but I’ve learned that accepting powerlessness over alcohol and/or drugs enables us to become empowered in most every other important area of our lives.

Tim Lineaweaver, LMHCWreckage to Recovery

5. Exploring the Possibility of a Power Greater than Self

Having a spiritual experience or “awakening” can be part of following the steps. While this may sound overly religious or even off-putting to some, many people who participate in 12-Step programs share their experience of discovering a power greater than themselves. For some, this means God. For others, another type of higher power. Spiritual discovery can be as unique an experience as the recovery process itself.

• Research suggests that practicing spirituality can change a person’s beliefs and fuel their drive to serve others, in addition to deepening a sense of purpose, connection, and joy.
• Ultimately, for many who follow the 12 Steps, spiritual growth can lead to a life of peace, resilience, and gratitude. Although, it is important to remember that recovery is an individualized journey.

The Universal Invitation of the 12 Steps

The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous may have been born from the struggle of addiction, but they offer tools that reach far beyond recovery from substance use. They provide a path toward integrity, accountability, spiritual connection, and healing—gifts that anyone, from any walk of life, may be able to benefit from.

Still, important questions remain: When is the right time to introduce someone to the Steps? Are there circumstances where the Steps may not be beneficial—or even potentially harmful? And in a digital world, what’s the most effective way to engage with this process?

As we continue to explore and expand access to these powerful principles, let’s not lose sight of their deeper promise: to help us become more honest, connected, and alive. Whether in-person, online, or somewhere in between, the invitation remains the same—a deepened recovery journey and enhanced quality of life.

Find Support That Complements Your Step Work

Whether you’re new to the 12 Steps or deepening your recovery through a sponsor and community, the right clinical or holistic support can strengthen your progress. Recovery.com makes it easy to find drug and alcohol treatment centers that align with your values, offering options like 12-Step integration, trauma-informed care, and spiritual wellness. Explore trusted programs and take your next step with confidence.