Recovery from addiction is not a one-time event; it’s a lifelong process of self-awareness, accountability, and growth. Step 10 of the 12 Step Minnesota Model captures this truth perfectly: “Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.”
From a therapist’s perspective, Step 10 is more than a maintenance tool; it’s a daily mental health practice that strengthens emotional resilience, prevents relapse, and deepens self-understanding. Step 10 builds on earlier steps that involve self-examination (Step 4) and making amends (Steps 8 and 9). But unlike those earlier, more intensive inventories, Step 10 is about ongoing, real-time self-monitoring, which is essential for sustainable addiction recovery.
Psychologically, this aligns with concepts such as metacognition, the ability to think about your own thinking, noticing patterns before they spiral; emotional regulation, identifying and managing emotions like anger, resentment, or shame before they lead to destructive behaviour; and cognitive behavioural principles, catching distorted thinking early and replacing it with healthier perspectives.
The Broader Context of Step 10
By practising Step 10 daily, individuals create a feedback loop that reinforces positive behaviours and interrupts negative ones before they escalate. This makes it a valuable tool not only in 12-step work but also in broader addiction recovery programmes such as those offered at Ocean Bay Recovery.
From a clinical standpoint, Step 10 serves several mental health functions: it prevents emotional build-up by reducing psychological stress, strengthens self-efficacy by building confidence in one’s ability to handle challenges without resorting to old coping mechanisms, supports relapse prevention by addressing small slips in thinking or behaviour immediately, and encourages humility and connection by fostering trust in relationships and reinforcing social support. According to the 12 Step Minnesota Model, these principles remain a cornerstone of lasting addiction recovery.
Actionable Tasks in Step 10
Psychologists often recommend structured methods to make Step 10 more effective, such as nightly journaling to record moments of pride and regret, mindfulness check-ins to notice emotional states, accountability partners to share reflections with, and HALT awareness to recognise when you’re feeling hungry, angry, lonely, or tired.
One of the most important psychological truths embedded in Step 10 is the idea of progress over perfection. As Dr Timmen Cermak notes, character flaws like impatience or irritability are never fully eliminated; they are managed through awareness and corrective action. This mindset reduces shame and encourages persistence, even in the face of mistakes.
In therapy, this is known as self-compassion, treating yourself with the same understanding you’d offer a friend. From a therapist’s perspective, Step 10 is a daily mental health practice disguised as a spiritual principle. It’s about staying emotionally agile, repairing relationships quickly, and maintaining the psychological gains of addiction recovery. When practised consistently, Step 10 transforms recovery from a set of steps into a way of life – one grounded in honesty, humility, and continuous growth.
Ready to take the next step? Contact us today, and let’s start your addiction recovery journey together.