A Womans Way Through The Twelve Steps

by Stephanie S. Covington (Artist)

Women's recovery can differ from men's, and each person's recovery is in many ways unique. That's why Stephanie Covington has designed A Women's Way Through the Twelve Steps to help a woman find her own path-and find it in terms especially suited to the way women experience not just addiction and recovery but also relationships, self, sexuality, and everyday life. Unlike many ''rewritten'' Twelve Step interpretations for women, this guide works with the original Step language, preserving its spirit and focusing attention on its healing message.

This compilation of a diverse group of real women's voices and wisdom illuminates how women understand the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and offers inspiring stories of how they have traveled through the Steps and discovered what works for them. The book can be used alone or as a companion to The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous .

By drawing attention to how recovery raises special issues for women - from questions about sexuality and relationships to essential topics such as powerlessness, spirituality, and trauma - A Woman's Way empowers women to take ownership of their recovery and to grow and flourish in sobriety.

Also available in Spanish.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Mental Health, Reference, Health, Psychology, Inspirational

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I am not an "addict" per se, I found this book to be immensely helpful. I will definitely be reading it again. I can't even begin to process all the wonderful truths Covington has provided through her own journey, as well as the journeys of the other women she highlighted in this book.

I was a little concerned that this book would not apply to me, but I was able to take the things outlined and apply them to myself in a way that made them relevant to me.

Covington's writing was sharp, clean, precise, and she was able to keep up a good pace...not going too fast or dragging along.

I recommend this book to any and every woman who is going through a tough spot or who wants to completely change the direction their life is going.

[Dawn Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read each time I do the steps.

[Deborah-Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read for anyone who is in recovery. It touches on all forms of addiction: alcohol, drugs, sex/relationships, food, co-dependency, etc. Using the 12 suggested steps for Alcoholics Anonymous, this book describes in detail what each of the 12 steps mean in our modern 21st century, paying specific and careful attention to how they impact women specifically. Women in recovery may struggle with certain male constructs and language that the book was originally written in. Covington takes into consideration words such as "powerless" and "higher power" or the concept of the Lord's Prayer which is often recited in meetings and talks about how these phrases may influence women negatively who have been in situations of domestic or sexual abuse and assault. Her book is very freeing in terms of spirituality and in the end offers clarity on the 4 main areas recovery benefits women: self, relationships, sexuality, and spirituality. I would recommend this book to any woman in recovery irregardless of whether she is just learning the steps now or has already been through a step study.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve lost this review four times. I give up. An excellent book about the ways women can change the language of the 12 steps so it is less patriarchal.

[E.B. Lorow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a welcome addition to all the AA (NA, OA, etc.) literature out there. It isn't officially sanctioned by any program, but it follows the 12 steps created by the AA founders. This book is a must read for female addicts and alcoholics imo. It's modern and written from a feminist's POV. Most AA literature is from a male POV and was created in the 1930's - 1950's. For instance, they talk about the long-suffering wives of the alcoholic. Most women these days won't put up with the bad behavior of an addict spouse.

[Djuna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need this book right now.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book accompanied with the workbook.

[Patrick Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book. I recommend it for men and women. As a man it informed me about issues that women face that I was not aware of. It opened my eyes to the experiences and pressures that women face.

There are many things in this book that should be discussed more in the rooms. This is a fantastic approach and addition to the big book. If your having trouble with the big book, I would read this.

For my program personally, it taught me about forgiveness, acceptance, self love, the message is important and not the specific words. This has really expanded my program.

Warning: do not get the audiobook. The voices the narrator uses when quoting women are absolutly condescending, insulting, and exaggerated. I was amazed that no one stopped her during the recording process and told her the content of her words were fantastic but the way she said them took away all meaning. One of the lessons from this book will be the ability to hear the message and ignore the messenger.

[Kate Mcphail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a really great resource for women in 12-step recovery. Towards the end there is a part where she says becoming whole is like walking up a spiral staircase. You go upwards but you also circle around and when the same patterns and situations repeat they are perceived differently because you are on a different level. I for one don't want to spiral down into the destructive mess I become when I start using. This book and the companion workbook are truly wonderful tools that help navigate this whole recovery thing.

[Reanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I worked at a recovery center as a dorm mom for women. THIS book made waves! Women are still greatly underserved in recovery...most material is male-skewed or unisex. But women in recovery NEED to talk through feelings like mother guilt, inadequacy, and shame. I had a couple of my ladies read this book and it quickly became THE book everyone wanted! Everyone connected with this book in one way or another. Age and D.O.C did not matter. This book connected!

[Christin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the reinterpretation of the 12 step program. Women experience addiction and its underlying components in a fundamentally different way than men in the 1930s did. I appreciate how Covington managed to retain the fundamental success of this program and angled the necessary introspection required to achieve freedom without diluting the message.

[jpike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connection

I liked this book because I’m in recovery and writing my forth step. I feel this book helped me to realize the importance of being open to connecting with women in the program. I never have to be alone on this journey.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely, helpful not only for addicts but for every people with uncontrollable bad personality and behavior

[Micheline Villeneuve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful book

Helps women see and work the steps from a feminine point of view. Really enjoyed this book. Helped me understand better

[Jo Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent women's perspective of the 12 Steps.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great work on the twelve steps, addictions, and how these intersect with women's lived experience.

[Marshall Krause · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too wordy

End of book after the Steps were too hard to follow, way too wordy and unnecessary words and phrases used

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in recovery and loved this book. Great idea of how a women goes through recovery different then a man. It was very helpful I recommend it highly. I high lighted some of my favorite parts. Rated 5 stars. I took my time to really understand and connect with the book. The story's girls put in there are really interesting too.

[Angela Ross Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a chemical dependency counselor, this book made the recovery process and working the 12-step program easier for women. I highly recommend chemical dependency counselors keep one in shelf and recommend it to their clients.

[Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh no, not another one. The attempt to use 12 step religion rather than a sound bio/psycho/social model.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful book that I enjoyed a lot. It was very helpful to me.

[Chris Denison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A breakthrough