Wellbriety: Indigenous Wisdom for Lasting Recovery
In recent years, more individuals seeking recovery from substance use disorders have begun turning to programs that honor cultural identity, ancestral healing, and spiritual connection. Among these is the Wellbriety Movement, a powerful and growing recovery approach rooted in Indigenous traditions.
At Healing Rock Recovery, we believe in offering pathways to healing that recognize the wholeness of each individual—including their culture, community, and spirit. That’s why we’re proud to incorporate principles from the Wellbriety Movement into our recovery philosophy.
What Is Wellbriety?
The word “Wellbriety” comes from combining “wellness” and “sobriety.” It’s a Native-led healing approach created by the White Bison organization, founded by Don Coyhis (Mohican Nation), and it addresses addiction recovery through Indigenous values, teachings, and ceremonies.
Rather than viewing sobriety as the end goal, Wellbriety promotes emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual healing—a holistic model deeply aligned with Indigenous worldviews. It places equal emphasis on sobriety and the wellness needed to sustain it.
Principles of the Wellbriety Movement
Wellbriety is grounded in several key principles that promote healing from trauma, substance use, and cycles of disconnection:
The Medicine Wheel: A sacred symbol representing balance across four directions—spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical. It’s used to guide personal growth and healing.
Intergenerational Healing: Addressing trauma that may have been passed down through families and communities, especially due to colonization, boarding schools, and systemic oppression.
Cultural Practices: Incorporating sweat lodges, smudging, drumming, talking circles, and storytelling as forms of treatment and connection.
The 12 Steps—Reimagined: A version of the traditional 12-step program adapted to reflect Native values and teachings, often guided by Elders and traditional healers.
Why Wellbriety Matters in Recovery
For many Indigenous individuals and others seeking culturally meaningful treatment, standard rehab programs may feel incomplete or disconnected. Wellbriety bridges that gap by offering a spiritually rooted, community-driven alternative.
Studies have shown that people heal more fully when their cultural identity is acknowledged and affirmed. Wellbriety restores that connection—helping individuals not only stop using substances but reclaim a sense of belonging, history, and purpose.
Wellbriety at Healing Rock Recovery
At Healing Rock Recovery, we incorporate the values of Wellbriety into our therapeutic environment by:
Honoring Indigenous healing traditions alongside clinical care
Offering group sessions and circles inspired by the Medicine Wheel framework
Supporting clients in reconnecting with their ancestral roots and personal spirituality
Providing culturally sensitive treatment for Native and non-Native clients who seek deeper meaning in their recovery journey
We believe that healing must reach the soul as well as the mind and body—and Wellbriety helps us walk that path with our clients.
Finding a Culturally Responsive Rehab Program
Whether you identify as Native American, Alaska Native, First Nations or simply feel called to a deeper, more spiritual path of recovery, Wellbriety-based treatment may resonate with you.
If you’re looking for a rehab center that understands and respects Indigenous wisdom, Healing Rock Recovery offers a welcoming, inclusive space to begin that journey.
Begin Your Healing Journey with Us
Recovery isn’t just about removing substances—it’s about reclaiming your whole self. If you’re interested in learning more about our culturally integrated programs, including Wellbriety-informed care, contact Healing Rock Recovery today. We’re here to support your healing—every step of the way.
