Transform Your Life Through Wellbriety Meetings

Finding peace, strength, and healing from substance abuse takes more than simply stopping alcohol or drug use. Recovery becomes stronger when it reconnects you to your identity, your family, and your spirit. Wellbriety meetings provide a safe place to heal, rooted in Native American teachings that address addiction, grief, and behavior on all levels. At Beach View Recovery in Huntington Beach, we support approaches like Wellbriety that help our patients build lasting sobriety through balance, connection, and community.

What Are Wellbriety Meetings?

Wellbriety meetings are community-based support gatherings created by Don Coyhis, a member of the Mohican Nation, to help Native communities recover from alcohol and drug addiction. The word Wellbriety combines “wellness” and “sobriety,” reflecting an emphasis on balance in mental health, spirit, and behavior.

Meetings follow the Medicine Wheel and 12 Steps, blending traditional Native wisdom with Narcotics Anonymous and AA principles. Participants find healing through sharing stories, prayer, and connecting in circle. At Beach View Recovery, we’ve seen how this safe place helps patients restore dignity and hope while staying sober.

The Roots of the Wellbriety Movement

Don Coyhis started the Wellbriety Movement after seeing the devastating effects of substance abuse and trauma on Native people. He wanted to create a healing path that honored culture and family, addressing not just alcohol use but also grief and disconnection.

Wellbriety began in South Dakota, and soon meetings expanded into Michigan, Indiana, Idaho, New Mexico, Ontario, and other regions. In cities like Denver, community centers and even churches like the United Methodist Church have hosted these circles, making them accessible to more people in need.

A Safe Place to Heal

Addiction often leaves people feeling isolated, ashamed, and cut off from family and community. Wellbriety meetings offer a safe place to process grief, find strength, and share without judgment. At Beach View Recovery, we aim to create the same welcoming environment in our residential and outpatient programs.

Whether meeting in a community center, a church, or even behind the walls of a prison, Wellbriety gives people a chance to reconnect. Participants sit in a circle, sharing stories and encouraging one another to stay sober.

The Medicine Wheel: Restoring Balance

Central to the Wellbriety program is the Medicine Wheel, which teaches balance across four areas: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Participants reflect on what parts of their lives need attention to support their sobriety.

This model aligns with how we treat our patients at Beach View Recovery — addressing mental health, behavior, and spiritual needs alongside substance use. Whether you’re in Huntington Beach or attending meetings in Willow or Trina, the Medicine Wheel provides a clear guide for healing.

Spiritual Practices That Strengthen Sobriety

Wellbriety meetings often include spiritual traditions like meditation, prayer, smudging, or a sweat lodge. Some gatherings use a drum or even hold a drum circle, reinforcing connection to spirit and community.

At Beach View Recovery, we encourage our patients to explore practices that bring peace and strengthen their recovery. Spirituality, whether rooted in Native traditions or personal faith, helps many people maintain sobriety and improve mental health.

Healing in Community

The Wellbriety Movement teaches that addiction recovery requires rebuilding family ties and finding a supportive community. At Beach View Recovery, we see this daily — healing happens faster when patients feel supported by others who share their journey.

In Wellbriety meetings, participants often refer to each other as their “tribe,” and gatherings feel like a family. Even in areas as far apart as Indiana and Ontario, meetings create this same sense of belonging.

Addressing Grief and Trauma

Many people use alcohol or drugs to cope with grief, anger, or unresolved trauma. Wellbriety meetings don’t shy away from this pain; they help people work through it in a safe place with the support of others.

We take a similar approach at Beach View Recovery. Our therapists help patients confront grief, heal behavior patterns, and strengthen mental health so they can maintain sobriety beyond treatment.

Where to Find a Meeting

Wellbriety meetings are held in cities, reservations, and prisons across the U.S. and Canada. They meet in community centers, United Methodist Church halls, treatment programs, and even online. You can check the meeting schedule on the White Bison website to find a circle near you.

Whether you’re looking in New Mexico, Michigan, Denver, or right here in Orange County, Wellbriety is open to all who seek balance and sobriety.

Integrating Wellbriety With Treatment

At Beach View Recovery, we help our patients incorporate Wellbriety into their recovery plans. Our team works with each patient to design a program that respects spiritual and cultural needs while addressing mental health and behavior.

Combining evidence-based therapy with Wellbriety meetings, meditation, and drum circles gives patients more tools to stay sober and connected. For some, participating in Wellbriety circles becomes the foundation for lifelong healing.

Why Wellbriety Works

Wellbriety works because it addresses the whole person — mind, body, spirit, and emotions — and because it creates a strong sense of belonging. For people who feel disconnected or forgotten, the Medicine Wheel and circle offer clarity and hope.

Even if you’re not Native, you can benefit from the universal lessons of forgiveness, balance, and community. At Beach View Recovery, we encourage everyone to explore Wellbriety alongside our residential or outpatient programs.

Beach View Recovery Can Help You Start

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, Beach View Recovery in Huntington Beach is here to help. Our residential and outpatient programs treat alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health issues while providing a safe place to heal.

We’ll help you find a local Wellbriety meeting schedule, connect you to a community center or church hosting circles, and integrate the Medicine Wheel principles into your recovery. Whether you’re drawn to the teachings of Don Coyhis, the rhythm of the drum, or the warmth of the circle, we’ll walk this road with you.

Take the Next Step

At Beach View Recovery, we know that recovery is more than abstinence — it’s about healing your spirit, rebuilding your family, and finding your place in the community. Whether you attend a Wellbriety meeting in Willow, join a drum circle in Denver, or walk the road of sobriety here in Huntington Beach, you deserve a life filled with balance and hope.

Call us today to begin your journey — we’ll help you every step of the way.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wellbriety

1. What is the Medicine Wheel and how is it used in Wellbriety?

The Medicine Wheel teaches balance across spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health. In Wellbriety meetings, it guides people recovering from alcohol and drug use to reflect on their lives and make healthier choices, often within a supportive circle or drum circle.

2. Where are Wellbriety meetings held?

Wellbriety meetings take place in community centers, churches like the United Methodist Church, and sometimes outdoors for ceremonies such as a sweat lodge. Many are located in South Dakota, Michigan, Indiana, New Mexico, Idaho, Denver, Ontario, and even smaller towns like Willow, as well as some prison programs.

3. How does Wellbriety differ from Narcotics Anonymous?

While Narcotics Anonymous focuses on abstinence and the 12 Steps, Wellbriety adds Native traditions like the Medicine Wheel, Sioux teachings, drum circles, and a strong emphasis on healing the family and community. Both programs support sobriety, but Wellbriety also addresses cultural and spiritual needs.

4. How can I find a Wellbriety meeting schedule?

The easiest way to find a meeting schedule is through the White Bison website, which lists gatherings across states like Michigan, Idaho, and New Mexico, as well as cities like Denver and Ontario. Some schedules are also posted at local community centers or churches along your recovery road.