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There’s Life Beyond Addiction. SMART Recovery can help you get there.

About

SMART Recovery is an abstinence-oriented, not-for-profit organization for individuals with addictive problems. Our self-empowering, free mutual support meetings focus on ideas and techniques to help you change your life from one that is self-destructive and unhappy to one that is constructive and satisfying. SMART Recovery does not use labels like “addict” or “alcoholic.” We teach scientifically validated methods designed to empower you to change and to develop a more positive lifestyle. After you have become familiar with SMART and are free of any addictive behavior, we encourage you to become a volunteer, so that we can keep expanding the number of meetings we offer. Addictive behaviors can serve a purpose — to cope with life’s problems and emotional upsets. There can be drawbacks, however: while addictive behaviors may be effective coping methods in the short term, but they may cause harmful problems in the long term.

In SMART we focus on learning coping skills that work well short- and long-term. We base our ideas on what addiction science has shown to be effective. We have adapted these ideas into SMART’s tools for change. We are not much concerned with the past, except to learn from it. We focus on present-day events and the causes of self-destructive behaviors. We concentrate on what to do about them to achieve a positive lifestyle change, especially in the areas of our lives that are related to harmful addictive behavior.

Key Areas of Awareness and Change

SMART Recovery’s approach to behavioral change is built around our 4-Point Program®: (1) Building and maintaining the motivation to change. (2) Coping with urges to use. (3) Managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in an effective way without addictive behaviors. (4) Living a balanced, positive, and healthy life.

Motives and Goals

Motivation is a key element in nearly all you do. Consider that all human beings share several primary goals: survival, the avoidance of pain, happiness. Any addictive behaviors you engage in are to pursue these primary goals. We can help you see that you may be meeting these goals short-term but impairing your ability to meet them in the long-term.

Beliefs

What you believe about addiction is important, and there are many beliefs to choose from. You may believe, for example, that you’re powerless, or that after the first drink you lose all control and can’t stop. These beliefs may actually be damaging to you. Similar examples include, “I’ve tried and failed, so I can’t do it. I need alcohol to cope.” Or, “Because I’ve tried to quit and failed, I’m no good.” Those beliefs, and many like them, can’t be justified because the evidence just doesn’t support them. We will help you identify, examine, and modify your beliefs about yourself, your problems, and how to change.

Emotions

People often engage in addictive behavior to cope with emotional problems, including anger, guilt, anxiety, and low self-esteem. SMART Recovery teaches you how to diminish your emotional disturbances and increase self-acceptance. Then you can have greater motivation and the ability to change and to live more happily.

Behaviors

Changes in thinking and emotions alone are not enough. Commitment and follow-through are essential. We encourage participants to become involved in enjoyable activities that replace their problematic addictive behaviors.

How SMART Provides Help

Our meeting format is straightforward and organized. Our facilitators are trained to follow the SMART Recovery program and principles to help participants change their behavior. Some of them have had addictive problems, and some haven’t. That doesn’t seem to make any difference. Remember, SMART Recovery is a mental health and educational program, focused on changing human behavior. SMART Recovery meetings are serious but often fun. We don’t dredge up the past, about which we can do nothing. We can do something about the present and the future. Our meeting discussions focus on how to apply SMART’s tools for change so that you can go on to lead a more productive and connected life. Near the end of the meeting, the “hat” is passed for donations, which are encouraged but not required.

Find A Meeting

IN-PERSON – Inspire Malibu, Suite #103

30101 Agoura Court
Agoura Hills, CA 91301

7:00 PM–8:30PM

IN-PERSON – Inspire Malibu, Suite #103

Family & Friends & Sober Perspectives
30101 Agoura Court
Agoura Hills, CA 91301

ONLINE – Zoom Meeting
To request an invitation and Zoom link, please email us at smartinfo.to@gmail.com.

7:00 PM–8:30PM

IN-PERSON – Inspire Malibu, Suite #103

IN-PERSON – Kaiser Permanente
3855 Alamo St
Unit A
Simi Valley, CA 93063 United States

Noon–1:30PM

Are you just visiting the Conejo Valley and will be going back home soon? Click here to find a S.M.A.R.T Meeting in your neck of the woods.

Contact

Welcome to SMART Recovery’s contact page. We’re here to assist you in any way we can. Please choose from the following options to get in touch with us:

1. General Inquiry Form:

2. Find a Meeting or Online Support:

If you’re looking for a local meeting or online support options, please use our locator tool or contact us using the form above with your location details, and we’ll assist you in finding the closest available resources.

3. ONLINE – Zoom Meeting
To request an invitation and Zoom link, please email us at smartinfo.to@gmail.com.

4. Find A Meeting Nationwide

Are you just visiting the Conejo Valley and will be going back home soon? Click here to find a S.M.A.R.T Meeting in your neck of the woods.

5. Join Our Facebook Group

This is a private discussion group for people sharing experiences about their addiction(s), recovery and beyond. It is an extension of our online and face-to-face SMART Recovery meetings.

Dollar and a Dream – SMART Recovery Online Support

Meeting Rules

The word SMART stands for Self-Management And Recovery Training. Our meetings are scheduled to run for 90 minutes and discussions are open to anyone including supportive family members and friends.

The main focus of these meetings is how to abstain from harmful addictions or activities, including but not limited to: alcohol, drugs, food, sex, shopping, self-harm, the internet and gambling. The SMART tools are designed to help each of us — regardless of what the unwanted behavior might be — to find a better balance in our lives.

SMART is a “crosstalk” process group that discusses tools based in CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) to empower individuals struggling with addiction to take charge of their own recovery.  

SMART meetings are confidential.  You can share as much or as little (or not at all) as you like.  You can use your real name or any name you want.  What is said in the room, stays in the room.  That is how we try to promote complete honesty.  Because you can best help yourself (and others) when you are being completely honest about what is going on.

Participants are encouraged to take primary responsibility for their own recovery.  Thus, there is no sponsorship or buddy system. You do not have to label or identify as an “alcoholic” or an “addict” to share.  (Unless that’s part of your recovery)

While SMART does not have any spiritual component, you are welcome to discuss spirituality as part of your recovery.

SMART is particularly effective for those who struggle with 12-Step concepts like “powerlessness.” It is, however, fully compatible with AA, and many people use both.

We don’t charge anything for attendance at these meetings, but we do ask for online donations. Your donations help with local publicity, purchasing of Handbooks, and a portion of what we collect is shared with the SMART Recovery Central Office, to help keep the program available to individuals throughout the US. We’re grateful for your support.

We will sign attendance verification slips for anybody who needs it.