12 Precepts of Recovery

What the course is

The 12 Precepts of Recovery are twelve principles that founder Carol Lombard Clark developed over years of filming and interviewing people affected by war. They are registered with the Library of Congress and they are the backbone of everything Global Recovery Inc does. The course walks a family through the precepts one at a time, with short readings, reflection prompts, recorded conversations with Veterans and family members, and practical exercises to try between sessions.

The precepts are not a clinical protocol and the course is not therapy. It is an education and peer-support program designed to sit alongside professional care, to help a family understand what is happening in their home, and to give them language and routines they can use every day.

The four-path methodology

The twelve precepts are grouped into four paths, taken in a fixed order. The method begins with the body because sleep, movement and daily routine affect everything else. It moves to the mind, then to relationships, and finally to spirit. A family can start anywhere, but the course is built to be followed in order.

1. Body — Physical regulation and wellbeing. Resources for this path.
2. Mind — Mental health care and cognitive recovery. Resources for this path.
3. Relationships — Family, partner, children and community connection. Resources for this path.
4. Spirit — Meaning, purpose and spiritual wellbeing. Resources for this path.

Format

• Online, self-paced. Twelve modules you can complete on your own schedule, with a suggested rhythm of one precept per week.
• Online group sessions. Live video sessions for families working through the same precept, led by a facilitator from Global Recovery Inc.
• In person. Workshops and small-group sessions hosted with partner organizations, and, once they open, at our planned recovery centers in New York, Maryland and Florida.

Who it is for

• Spouses and partners of Veterans living with post-traumatic stress.
• Adult children and, with a parent’s participation, teens.
• Parents, siblings and other caregivers.
• Veterans who want to work through the material together with their family.

You do not need a diagnosis, a referral or any prior experience. You do need a willingness to show up for twelve sessions and to try the exercises at home.

What the course is not

It is not a substitute for care from a licensed clinician, and it is not a program for someone in crisis. If you or a family member are in immediate danger, use the Veterans Crisis Line above. If you are not yet connected with professional care, the Mind path lists licensed and VA options you can contact directly.

How to request information

Use the Get Support form and tell us you are interested in the 12 Precepts course. Let us know whether you prefer online or in person and which state you are in. We will reply by email within a few business days with current session dates and next steps. You can also call +1 (561) 758-5191, Monday through Friday, 10am to 5pm ET.