What is Conscious Recovery?

A Certified Conscious Recovery™ Provider in L.A.

At The Haven, we believe healing is about more than just checking boxes on a treatment plan. It’s about helping young adults reconnect with themselves, rediscover their worth, and build a life they actually want to live. That’s why we’re proud to be a Certified Conscious Recovery™ Provider.

But what does that actually mean? And why is it so important for our students and families?

A Different Lens on Healing

Conscious Recovery™ is a healing modality and curriculum developed by TJ Woodward, a thought leader, author, and spiritual counselor in the behavioral health field. It’s designed to help individuals move beyond symptom management and into true emotional and spiritual healing.

Unlike many traditional models that focus heavily on pathology (what’s “wrong” with a person), Conscious Recovery is based on the core belief that:

Each person is whole and perfect at their core. Addiction and mental health struggles are symptoms of deeper disconnection, not moral failings or defects.

This model supports clients in exploring root causes of their distress, such as trauma, shame, disconnection, or lack of purpose – all while helping them reconnect with their true, authentic selves.

What Does It Mean to Be “Certified”?

The Conscious Recovery™ Certification is more than a philosophy: it’s a structured clinical training and endorsement process designed for treatment programs that want to integrate the model into their services.

To become a Certified Conscious Recovery Provider, The Haven’s clinical leadership and therapeutic team completed formal training led by TJ Woodward and his team. This certification process includes:

✅ In-depth training in the Conscious Recovery principles and curriculum
✅ Hands-on instruction in group facilitation using Conscious Recovery materials
✅ Ongoing access to resources, consultation, and support from the Conscious Recovery organization
✅ A formal certification recognizing the provider as meeting the standards and values of the model

As a result, our clients receive Conscious Recovery–based curriculum and practices woven directly into their care, including group therapy, individual sessions, and family engagement.

Why Conscious Recovery™ Matters for Young Adults

Let’s be real: emerging adulthood is a time of identity-building, experimentation, and figuring things out. Unfortunately, some young people go under-supported or over-pathologized when mental health or substance use struggles enter the picture. What do we mean by that, exactly?

For generations, young people have faced shame-based messaging (some of which might even sound normal to older generations).

It might sound like:

❌ “You’re not motivated enough.”
❌ “Grow up. You need more discipline.”
❌ “You’re the problem.”

The real problem? Many young people don’t respond to this approach, and ultimately fall through the cracks.

🔃 Conscious Recovery™ flips the script:

✨”You are not broken.”
✨ “Your behaviors make sense in context.”
✨ “You deserve to heal, not just cope.”

This approach is especially effective with Gen Z clientelle, who are more spiritually curious, stigma-aware, and resistant to being labeled than previous generations. Conscious Recovery gives them language and structure to explore healing in a way that feels empowering (not imposed).

How We Use It at The Haven

At The Haven, we don’t just borrow concepts from Conscious Recovery™. Being a Certified Provider means we infuse it into our program structure, language, and culture.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• Conscious Recovery groups are facilitated weekly using TJ Woodward’s curriculum and workbook.
• Clients are supported in identifying and addressing underlying root causes, not just surface-level symptoms.
• We use experiential and mindfulness-based tools that align with the CR approach (like guided imagery, journaling, values exploration, and somatic awareness).
• Staff are trained to hold space, rather than impose “fixes.”

This pairs beautifully with our evidence-based treatment modalities (like DBT, CBT, ACT, etc.)—making care feel both clinically sound and personally meaningful.

What This Means for Clients & Parents

If you’re a student or young adult, Conscious Recovery means you’re entering a space that sees you as whole, not damaged. You’ll be invited to look beneath the behavior and connect to who you really are (not just what you’ve been through).

If you’re a parent, it means your child is in a program that balances clinical integrity with emotional intelligence. They’ll be surrounded by professionals trained to help them grow, not just stop acting out.

And if you’re a university partner or mental health provider, it means The Haven is part of a national movement toward more trauma-informed, spiritually-conscious care – and doing so with certification, structure, and standards behind it.

In Short: Certification Isn’t Just a Label. It’s a Commitment.

Being a Certified Conscious Recovery Provider signals our deep alignment with a model that’s changing lives across the country. And, more importantly, it gives our students and families a pathway to healing that feels human, not clinical.

At The Haven, we’re not here to lecture or label. We’re here to support growth, connection, and possibility.

Because you’re not broken. You’ve just been disconnected from who you really are.
And we’re here to help you find your way back.