You may be thinking that recovery is only for those with alcohol or drug problems. This could not be further from the truth. Celebrate Recovery mentions “recovery from life’s hurts, hang-ups and habits.” But what does this mean? A hurt, habit or hang-up is something in you or your life that hinders your walk with God and others. THESE LIFE PROBLEMS CAN BE STUMBLING BLOCKS OR STEPPING STONES! If you suffer from one or more of the effects defined in the following, Celebrate Recovery can offer a solution of healing for you.

Hurt: to experience physical pain caused by yourself or another; to feel emotional pain; undergo or experience difficulties or setbacks. The feeling of being hurt is an emotional reaction to another person’s behavior or to a disturbing situation -(e.g., abuse, abandonment, codependency, divorce, relationship issues, etc.)

Hang-up: a psychological or emotional problem or fixation about something. An issue that causes persistent impediment or source of delay. Hang-ups are negative mental attitudes that are used to cope with people or adversity (e.g., anger, depression, fear, unforgiveness, etc.)

Habit: regular repeated behavior pattern. An action or pattern of behavior that is repeated so often that it becomes typical of somebody, although he or she may be unaware of it. Addiction, such as an addiction to a drug, food or some other stimuli that deadens ones feelings. A habit is an addiction to someone or something (e.g., alcohol dependency, drugs, food, gambling, sex, shopping, smoking, etc.).
Healing and growth are possible by applying the principles of Celebrate Recovery to your life!

Partial list of hurts, hang-ups, and habits:

Small Group Guidelines

Below are guidelines we implement during Celebrate Recovery Small Groups.


Keep your sharing focused on your own thoughts and feelings. Please limit your sharing to 3-5 minutes.
Not your spouse’s, boyfriend’s, or your family members’ hurts, hang-ups and habits, but your own. Focusing on yourself will benefit your recovery as well as the ones around you. Stick to “I” or “me” statements, not “you” or “we” statements. Limit your sharing to 3–5 minutes, so that everyone has an opportunity to share; and to ensure that one person does not dominate the group sharing time. Concentrating on others' needs, problems, motives, and behaviors help us avoid our own issues. It also makes us observers not participants and can put a lonely distance between ourselves and others.

There will be no cross-talk please. Each person is free to express feelings without interruption.
Listen respectfully to what others choose to share. We don't want anyone to feel that they won't be able to finish sharing, that their ideas are not valued, or that they won't get a chance to speak. This includes asking questions or other interactions while someone is sharing. If someone's sharing touches your heart and prompts an idea, you can express what has been brought to your mind without acknowledging someone else' sharing.

We are here to support one another, not “fix” one another.
Open sharing and step study groups are not designed to be a place where we can give advice, even if we are professionals. They are designed to allow free, open talk without being analyzed and given feedback from the group. This keeps the focus on ourselves and enables us to share personal need, feelings, ideas, and problems while the Holy Spirit does His healing work in our lives.

Anonymity and confidentiality are basic requirements. What is shared in the group stays in the group.
This includes telling others what was said or done in the group, gossip disguised as a prayer request, or acknowledging someone on the street as knowing them from CR. We don't want to violate trust, safety, or make people afraid to share risky information. All can attend anonymously with assurance that your attendance and the information you share will be held in strict confidence. The only exception is when someone threatens to injure themselves or others. Please be advised, if anyone threatens to hurt themselves or others, the Small Group Leader has the responsibility to report it to Celebrate Recovery Ministry Leader.

Offensive language has no place in a Christ-centered recovery group.
Any offensive language is inappropriate during sharing. This also includes information that may be too graphic. If at anytime someone starts to get too graphic in their sharing and you feel uncomfortable, please simply raise your hand. They will rephrase their sharing. Do the same for others during your sharing. This encourages respect while not causing someone to stumble with sharing that is offensive or too graphic. If you are unsure or still need to share in more detail, save that sharing for your sponsor or accountability partner.