The Modern Science of the 12 Step Tradition (w/ Dr. Jorja Jamison)
In this illuminating episode of Recovery Discovery, host DeAnn Knighton and co-host Craig sit down with Dr. Jorja Jamison, psychologist, professor, and author at the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies, to explore how modern neuroscience and psychology shed new light on the 12 Steps of recovery.
Dr. Jamison shares her personal journey — from training as an addiction psychologist while secretly battling her own substance use, to finding long-term recovery and discovering how the science of the brain validates what the 12 Steps have taught for decades: that healing happens through connection, meaning-making, and change.
Together, they unpack how each step reflects a core psychological or biological process — from the brain’s wiring and reward circuitry to the emotional release that comes from vulnerability and community.
Listeners will gain a robust new understanding of how surrender, honesty, and service are not only spiritual concepts but also neurochemical and psychological realities that support lasting transformation.
