Tools & Methods Used at Somerton Lodge
Structured, supportive, and never forced.
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At Somerton Lodge, we don’t rely on conversation alone.
We use a combination of structured tools, frameworks, and guided practices to help people stabilise, understand their patterns, and build a clear path forward.
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These tools and resources have been developed and refined through years of direct work in addiction recovery, and are supported by published materials that have reached over 30,000 readers worldwide.
Clients are not starting from scratch — they are stepping into a structured system that has already helped others navigate meaningful, lasting change. We have an array of tools, 12 Step and non 12 Step that we will tailor to your needs.
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Developed by John Elford — author of multiple recovery publications used internationally.
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"This work is not about adding more advice — it’s about helping you think, feel, and respond differently in the situations that currently keep you stuck".
"When you return home, you’re not relying on willpower — you’re following a structure that already makes sense to you".
The Integrated Step Course
A structured programme that helps you apply the 12 Steps in real life — not just understand them.
This is where recovery moves from theory into action, helping you think, respond, and live differently in the situations that currently keep you stuck.
The Quintiva Framework
A whole-person approach that helps you address the real drivers of change — not just one part of the problem.
Recovery often struggles when only one area is focused on. This framework brings everything together, so change is more stable and sustainable.
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Neurological – stabilising your brain and nervous system
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Behavioural – identifying and changing habits
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Emotional – developing regulation and resilience
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Social – understanding relationships and environment
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Spiritual – reconnecting with meaning, values, and direction
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Physical – restoring energy, sleep, and overall wellbeing
This is what allows recovery to become integrated — not something that works in one area but breaks down in another.
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“Five Minutes Of” Affirmation Series
Short, focused audio and written affirmations designed to help you reset your mindset and steady yourself throughout the day.
These give you something simple and repeatable to return to — especially in moments where your thinking or emotions start to drift.
Used both during and after your stay, they become a practical way to stay grounded, focused, and on track.
Guided Journaling & Reflection
Daily structured writing that helps you make sense of what’s actually going on — rather than reacting in the moment.
It gives you space to process, recognise patterns, and build clarity, so you can respond more calmly and intentionally instead of getting pulled into automatic reactions.
Meditation & Nervous System Regulation
Simple, practical techniques that help you settle your mind and body when things start to feel overwhelming.
These support emotional balance and clearer thinking, giving you a way to steady yourself rather than reacting impulsively — especially in early recovery.
Structured Recovery Resources
Alongside the core tools, you’ll work through a range of structured materials designed to help you apply what you’re learning — not just think about it.
These aren’t just read and left behind. They become part of your process, giving you something practical to return to during and after your stay.
The Sponsor’s 12 Step Manual
A practical, structured guide used to help you work through the 12 Steps in a clear, grounded way — not get lost in them.
This turns the Steps into something you can actually use, helping you take action, understand your patterns, and move forward with more clarity and direction.
Shortcomings or Character Defects?
A practical way to identify the patterns in your thinking and behaviour that keep you stuck — and begin to change them.
This helps you recognise things like distorted thinking, emotional reactions, and habits that quietly drive decisions, so you can respond differently instead of repeating the same cycles.​​
A Deep Dive Into the Twelve Steps
A practical, spiritually grounded way to work through the Big Book and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions with greater depth and clarity.
Used to strengthen your understanding and support ongoing step work — both during and after your stay.
There is also an international online study group running every Saturday based on this work, offering a way to continue learning and stay connected.
Twelve Step Recovery and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
An in-depth, structured approach that combines 12 Step recovery with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) — helping you understand how your thinking directly shapes your behaviour.
Used in clinical settings, including hospitals, this work goes beyond surface-level insight to explore thinking errors, emotional reasoning, and core beliefs in a practical, applied way.
This helps you recognise the patterns driving your behaviour — and begin to change them in real situations.
Recovery does not stop when someone leaves Somerton Lodge.
Clients have the option to continue their progress through our Get Into Recovery Skool platform — an online learning and support environment providing access to a wide range of structured recovery resources.
This includes:
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guided courses and workshops
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recovery-focused audio content and affirmations
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structured workbooks and written materials
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ongoing learning aligned with the tools used during the stay
This allows individuals to continue building on what they have started, maintaining structure and direction beyond their time at Somerton Lodge.
Why This Approach Works When Others Haven’t?
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Many people arrive at Somerton Lodge already knowing what they “should” do.
They may have:
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read books
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tried to cut down
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spoken to professionals
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made repeated attempts to change
But the difficulty is not usually a lack of understanding. - It is the gap between knowing and consistently applying — especially in the environments and situations that reinforce old patterns.
This is about more than insight — it’s about building a structured system that supports meaningful, lasting change beyond the stay, in an environment where progress is supported, not forced.
Why This Is Different?​
At Somerton Lodge, the focus is not just on insight.
It is on:
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stabilising the mind and body
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creating structure
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applying change in real time
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and building something that continues beyond the stay
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This reduces reliance on willpower alone and replaces it with a clear, repeatable approach.
Why Now Matters​
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For many people, there comes a point where:
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the effort of managing things becomes exhausting
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the gap between how things are and how they should be becomes clearer
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and delaying change starts to carry a greater cost
Taking a structured step at the right time can prevent further escalation and create a clearer path forward.
Why Somerton Lodge?​
Somerton Lodge combines:
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medically supported detox (where required)
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a structured recovery programme
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a calm, non-institutional environment
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and a set of tools developed through years of practical experience
This creates a setting where change is not only possible — but supported in a way that is realistic and sustainable.