SMART Recovery

SMART (Self Management and Recovery Training) is a programme that provides training and tools for people who want to change their problematic behaviour, including addiction to drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, gambling, food, shopping, Internet and others.

Guided by trained facilitators, participants come to help themselves and help each other using a variety of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and motivational tools and techniques.

The 4-Point Programme

The 4-Point Programme is the foundation and building blocks of SMART.  Many of the tools and techniques can be used not only for your recovery journey but to help you deal with future problems and achieve more satisfaction and balance in your life.

The four points are:

• Building and Maintaining Motivation
• Coping with urges
• Managing Thoughts, Feelings and Behaviours
• Living a Balanced Life

What makes SMART different?

SMART is secular and advocates personal choice. People make a choice to engage in problematic and addictive behaviours. They can also make a choice to stop. Everyone has the power of choice and can choose to change unhelpful or harmful behaviours.

People are not their behaviours so language like ‘addict’ and ‘alcoholic’ is not used. People seeking recovery are empowered to choose what works best for them, from a ‘toolbox’ of methods demonstrated in meetings and training materials.

Participants are free to engage with other services or mutual-aid groups which they find helpful; there is no single pathway to recovery. Once a healthy, positive and balanced lifestyle is achieved, participants are free to move on and pursue other goals in their life.

How to access the SMART Recovery Programme

Attend a SMART Meeting in your area or online

Meetings are structured to focus on the important work of recovery, led by trained facilitators. They empower participants to explore the SMART Recovery tools and programme with the support and challenge of others.

Complete our Training

The online training is designed with two specific but differing learning streams in mind; (1) it provides participants with a deeper understanding of the programme, for personal development and (2), it provides the basic information and knowledge for those participants who may wish to qualify as registered SMART facilitators in the future.

Purchase a SMART Handbook

Learn more about the programme and tools.