Hi, my name is Dr. Carnell Colebrook-Claude, Ph.D. Clinical, Health, Forensic & Neuropsychology, and a Board Certified Licensed Mental Health Practitioner - NCC, BC-TMH, LPC, LCPC, LPCC, LIMHP, LSOTP, LSOE.

 

I am conducting a research study investigating the effectiveness of my newly created Healing, Addiction, and Recovery treatment model, which is a 14 Higher Steps and Spiritual Strategies to Biopsychosocial Healing, Addiction and Recovery (14 Higher Strategies). 

 

The Fourteen Higher Steps and Spiritual  Strategies are Christian based strategies and affirmations centered on Jesus Christ/The Word of God in hopes of causing an individual to form new positive ways of thinking, embrace inner their strength, confidence, hopefulness, personal wellbeing, by counteracting longstanding, restrictive, or adverse beliefs associated with a person's overall biopsychosocial health and wellbeing, including addictions. 

Given that spirituality is progressively acknowledged as a key construct significant to effective biopsychosocial functioning and recovery, this research study came about through Divine intervention and after careful consideration of the best ways to use spirituality to assist all recovering individuals. 

 

As a result, the 14 Higher Steps and Strategies were developed in hopes of helping and leading to biopsychosocial healing for anyone and everyone. If you would like to try the 14 Higher Strategies and Steps the instructions will follow and for each step to be effective, you must:

1. Apply each step no less than six (6) days consecutively.

2. The step for that day should be read immediately after waking up or throughout the day to counteract all negative thoughts and to establish an encouraging tone for the rest of the day.    

3. Next, speak the step for that day out loud while thinking on the truth as you know it regarding your life. 

4. Repeat number 3 as many times a day as needed. 

Also, it is important to know that the amount of time that it takes to work through the 14 Higher Steps and Strategies will vary from person to person. 

 

You are encouraged to work through the steps one by one, and at any point, no matter which day or which step you are on, you may choose to go back and revisit any of the strategies even if you have already worked through it previously.  This is greatly encouraged as each step is an excellent resource to be used whenever any of your personal circumstances inadvertently changes and may require reflection on a prior strategy. 

 

The key is never to stop working the steps and to use them as a part of your daily regime and life living. Hence, they become fixed in your thought process and everyday life as you experience the healing and the freedom you ultimately desire on your journey to biopsychosocial healing.  

 

HERE ARE THE STEPS:

 

STEP 1

I declare that The Lord Jesus Christ has power over my addictions and compulsive behaviors, that He has control over my life, and He will help me to manage it.  I acknowledge that I am weak, I need The Lord Jesus Christ and I cannot take control of my life without His help.  Lord I surrender.

Scripture:

“But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, New International Version).

 

STEP 2

When I am weak God is strong, I believe that His Power is greater than anything that I can do or did, and Only Him can give me real and true healing.

Scripture:

“And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast [a]about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with [b]insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, New American Standard Bible).

 

STEP 3

I commit and surrender my spirit, soul, body, mind, will, self, and life to the Lord Jesus Christ in accordance to the Word of God.

Scripture:

 “I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20, English Standard Version). 

 “And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Jesus Speaking) (Luke 9:23, English Standard Version).

“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:26, New International Version).

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2, English Standard Version).

 

STEP 4

I commit to allowing my mind to be transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit by applying the Word of God to my life, allowing Him to search me, cleanse me, and remove those things that may encourage me to live in fear.  I commit to taking an inventory of my life to rid myself of the hindrances that influence my negative actions or harmful choices that goes against that good, acceptable and perfect will of God for my life.

Scripture:

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2, King James Version).

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:4-8, King James Version).

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves.  Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you are disqualified.  But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.  Now I [a] pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified.  For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.  For we are glad when we are weak, and you are strong.  And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.  Therefore, I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction” (2 Corinthians 13:5-10, New King James Version).

 

STEP 5

Confess your sins one to another to free yourself from the things which you have done in the past and present so that you can help rid yourselves from the residuals (negative thoughts, acts, emotions, and feelings) of those wrongs.

Scripture:

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16, English Standard Version).

“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, King James Version).

 

STEP 6

I surrender myself to The Lord Jesus Christ as I have faith in Him that He will wash me clean.

Scripture:

“Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12, English Standard Version).

“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8, New International Version).

“My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways” (Proverbs 23:26, New International Version).

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1, King James Version).

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground” (Psalm 143:10, New International Version).

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24, New International Version).

 

STEP 7

I admit that I am human and humbly present myself to the Lord Jesus Christ.  I ask Him to remove any failings and deficiencies and take away the scales from my eyes so that I may open my eyes to see and learn from my mistakes and failures, as I allow Him to continuously transform me.

Scripture:

“Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness” (Romans 6:13, Berean Study Bible).

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2, English Standard Version).

“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:4-5, New International Version).

“Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again.  He got up and was baptized” (Acts 9:18, New International Version).

 

STEP 8

Persevere, sustain, and uphold my transformation while maintaining a new creation outlook, thinking of things that are pure, true, just, and of a good report.  Keeping an optimistic outlook, taking an individual account of my life, actions, and thoughts, and quickly confessing, and casting down any wrong that may hinder my success, growth and progress.

 

Scripture:

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5, King James Version).

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8, English Standard Version).

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, English Standard Version).

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.  Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?  I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:18-19, English Standard Version).

“And to be renewed in the spirit of your minds” (Ephesians 4:23, Berean Study Bible).

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10, English Standard Version).

“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4, English Standard Version).

 

STEP 9

Asking Jesus Christ to forgive me and receiving the forgiveness of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Forgive myself and ask those whom I have hurt and offended to forgive me.  I recognize that I do not have to meet those whom I have hurt and offended face to face to ask forgiveness, especially if it is going to cause me or them more hurt, or harm, or put them, myself, and others in danger.  I must also keep in mind that in cases of abuse or trauma it is not always needed to confront my assailant, adversary, or abuser in person.  I can confront symbolically by role playing, writing a letter, which I may or may not send, and any other healthy and safe symbolic methods, means, and ways to free myself from living in bondage.  Forgiving when it is not easy.

Scripture:

“Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” (Colossians 3:13, English Standard Version).

“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go.  First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24, English Standard Version).

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool” (Isaiah 1:18, English Standard Version).

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7, English Standard Version).

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32, English Standard Version).

“Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18: 21-22, English Standard Version).

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-6, English Standard Version).

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37, English Standard Version).

“And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on His right and one on His left.  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23: 33-34, English Standard Version).

“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14, English Standard Version).

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16, English Standard Version).

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13, English Standard Version).

“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before Him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything” (1 John 3:19-20, English Standard Version).

 “As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12, English Standard Version).

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.  But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13, English Standard Version).

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, English Standard Version). 

“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25, English Standard Version).

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37, English Standard Version).

 

STEP 10

Rediscover my strengths and see that I am a living being with power and talents.  Discover the strengths that I never knew I had by believing in myself and the Lord Jesus Christ (God the Father, Son, and The Holy Spirit).  This will give me more motivation to overcome the trauma of my past hurt, pain, and disappointments so that I may advance in strength to deal with being triggered, without hurting myself or others because combatting my addiction, maintaining my recovery, my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, my new self, and a constructive relationship with others is that important to my happiness and contentment.

Scripture:

“For it is [not your strength, but it is] [a]God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13, Amplified Bible).

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.  “And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.  For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9, New Living Translation).

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.  “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11, New Living Translation).

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18, New Living Translation).

 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them” (Romans 8:28, New Living Translation).

“Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you.  He will not permit the godly to slip and fall” (Psalm 55:22, New Living Translation).

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done and will do in the future.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, New Living Translation).

“Have you never heard?  Have you never understood?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.  He never grows weak or weary.  No one can measure the depths of his understanding.  He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.  Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in from exhaustion.  But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31, New Living Translation).

“For I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13, New Living Translation).

 

STEP 11

Through prayer and meditation seek to improve my conscious contact with God as I understand Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for me and the power to carry that out.  Have confidence in myself, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, New King James Version). 

 

Seek God so that I would know His plan for my life, He is preparing me to do His work right now, even during challenging times.  No matter what burden comes, know that He will help me stand and I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus.  Ask the Lord Jesus Christ for His wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to guide my progress to fulfil my dreams and goals as I walk in His will to fulfil my life.  He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.  I may not feel equipped to deal with this change or transformation on my own, but God will guide me and give me what I need to get through it.

Scripture:

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31, New Living Translation).

 “For I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13, New Living Translation).

 

STEP 12

Now that my eyes have been open to the power, and authority that I have through Jesus Christ, as a result of these steps, I have the right to utilize my free will to live my life as an example for others, I want my experiences to be used as a testimony and I am determined to apply the Word of God to my everyday life. I know that I am human and at times I may not agree with the things that are taking place around me, or agree with the actions of others, and sometimes even my own actions.  However, when I fall short of the glory of God I will repent, turn from my wicked ways, ask God’s forgiveness, receive His forgiveness, forgive myself, and others, and be transformed by allowing my mind to be renewed through the Word of God.

 

I believe that I am the righteousness of God, I am God’s child, I will live a life that is pleasing to God and be an example for others to show that the chain of addiction is broken in the name of Jesus Christ, as I remain abstinent from the thing or things that I was addicted to, which was a customary way of operation in my life or behavior. With God’s help and with the help of positive others, abstinence will be systematic training by multiple repetitions of positive actions and resistance of the things that Satan may try to use to tempt me.  I will translate the idea of these principles into action and exercise the authority that is given to me through Jesus Christ.  I will continue to seek and apply the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God, gaining knowledge from positive others of the best ways to upkeep my abstinence and learn the best ways of how to refrain from my unhealthy habits, conducts, customs, behaviors, or traditions are best done.

 

Scripture:

“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you” (Luke 10:19, New American Standard Bible).

“The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name” (Luke 10:17, New American Standard Bible).

“I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.  I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:13-14, New American Standard Bible).

“…to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:18, New American Standard Bible).

“Submit therefore to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7, New American Standard Bible).

“…and do not give the devil an opportunity” (Ephesians 4:27, New American Standard Bible).

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11, New American Standard Bible).

 

STEP 13

Carry out positive actions, engage in, learn by repetition, take action, practice, make use of; obey, follow, perform in, and be in contact with the people, places, things, and thoughts that will help me to maintain and help me to resist from reverting into my unhealthy ways of functioning, I will continue to resist the enemy (people, places, things, thoughts, actions) and their presence will flee from my life.

Scripture:

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (Philippians 4:6-9, King James Version).

 

STEP 14

Live Victoriously

I am a new creation; old things have passed away and all things have become new in my life.  I will continue to be transformed as I daily walk in my new life in Jesus Christ.  I will remind myself daily that I am the righteousness of God.  I know that I must put on the whole armor of God, the helmet of salvation so that I can have the mind of Christ, and think of those things that are pure, true, just, positive, and of good report.  I must put on the breast plate of righteousness so that I can protect my heart against the strongholds and will continue to remind myself that I am the righteousness of God anytime I crave anything that will keep me in bondage.  When I am weak God is strong and if I find myself  returning to the thing(s)/the addiction/stronghold, as I participate in it I will continue to repeat to myself that “I am the righteousness of God” believing that I will resist the thing(s) that keep me in bondage, and the desire for those things that are against the will of God for my life will flee.

 

I must keep my body, God’s temple clean.  I must gird my waist with the truth, the truth in knowing that I am the righteousness of God, the truth in knowing that I am a new creation and that old things have passed away and all things have become new in my life through Christ Jesus.  I must shod my feet with the gospel of peace that I may walk in the peace of God that passes all understanding as I daily walk in His way reminding myself that I am the righteousness of God and a new creation.  I must take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God so that I may equip myself with the Word and maintain the power that was given to me through Christ Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  I am equipped with power in Christ Jesus.

 

Scripture:

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, New American Standard Bible).

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.  “But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing And her people for gladness.  “I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; And there will no longer be heard in her The voice of weeping and the sound of crying” (Isaiah 65:17-20, New American Standard Bible). 

“For just as the new heavens and the new earth Which I make will endure before Me,” declares the LORD, “So your offspring and your name will endure” (Isaiah 65:22, New American Standard Bible). 

“Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.  The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.  And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear” (Isaiah 11:1-3, New American Standard Bible).

 “And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28, New American Standard Bible). 

 

Thank you for trying the steps and participating.  

Copyright Notice

14 Higher Steps Spiritual Strategies to Addiction Recovery and Healing treatment model is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of this treatment model without written permission of Dr. Carnell Colebrook-Claude, Ph.D. is strictly prohibited.

 

© 2020 Dr. Carnell Colebrook-Claude, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved.