The Integrated Recovery Model for Addiction Treatment and Recovery

Abstract

This article outlines an integrally informed model for addiction treatment and recovery that is being pioneered and developed at Tabankulu Secondary Addiction Recovery Center in Cape Town, South Africa. Tabankulu is the world’s first inpatient addiction treatment center to implement an integrally informed treatment model. The Integrated Recovery model is a comprehensive, balanced, multi-phased, and multi-disciplinary approach to the treatment of and recovery from addiction. Its philosophy is derived from integrating a 12 Step abstinence-based methodology, mindfulness-based interventions, positive psychology, and Integral Theory. The case is made that addiction treatment facilities, therapists working with this population, and recovering addicts will become more proficient, effective, and consequently have higher success rates by becoming integrally informed.

Keywords: Addiction, 12 Steps, Integral Theory, Mindfulness, Positive psychology