Who Prepared Sobriety Is Not For
By Colin Casillas, Founder of Prepared Sobriety
The short answer
Who is Prepared Sobriety not for?
Prepared Sobriety isn't built for crisis or detox situations, those need medical supervision. It's not a group program or a 12-step model. And it's probably not the right time if you haven't had a moment yet where the drinking cost you something specific, or if someone else wants this more than you do. It's built for one high-functioning professional at a time, working through it privately, who is ready to decide for himself.
I get asked a lot who this is for. The easier answer is who it's not for.
If you're in a dangerous spot right now
If you're physically dependent on alcohol, at risk of withdrawal, in a genuinely dangerous spot right now, you need a doctor first. Not a framework. Not me. A medical professional who can get you through that safely. I'm not that person and I won't pretend to be.
If you want a group
Some people need the room. The meetings, the shared identity of it. That's a real thing and it works for a lot of people. It's just not what I do. I built this around one person at a time, working through it privately. If a group is what you're looking for, that's a different door than mine.
If you haven't had your moment yet
Here's the one that surprises people. If you haven't had a specific moment yet, a moment where you can point to what the drinking actually cost you, you're probably not ready. Not because you need to hit some bottom. You don't. I never did. But you need something concrete. A morning. A conversation. A number on a lab report. Something you can name. Without that, the work doesn't stick.
Six years in the Imagination stage before I ever picked a date. Thinking about it more than I was drinking less.
That's normal. That's most of the framework, actually. I spent six years in the Imagination stage before I picked a date. But somewhere in there, something has to click from "someday" into "this specific thing happened and I know what it means now." That shift is the Decision Point, and it's what makes the next stage possible.
If none of that describes you
If none of that describes you, this probably isn't the right time. And that's fine. I'd rather tell you that now than waste your money or your calendar. If you want to see the flip side, who this actually works best for lays out the fit in plain terms.
If it does describe you, a functioning professional who's had the moment and is ready to decide for himself, that's exactly who I built this for. It's also why this is an alternative to AA for professionals rather than a program. DM me the word RETIRE.
Frequently asked questions
Is Prepared Sobriety for people in crisis or withdrawal?
No. If you're physically dependent on alcohol or at risk of withdrawal, that needs medical supervision, a doctor who can get you through it safely, not a framework. Prepared Sobriety is built for high-functioning professionals who are not in a medical crisis.
Is Prepared Sobriety a group program or 12-step model?
No. It's built around one person at a time, working through it privately with Colin. Groups, meetings, and shared-identity programs work for a lot of people, they're just a different approach than this one.
How do I know if I'm ready?
You're likely ready if you can point to a specific moment where drinking cost you something concrete, a morning, a conversation, a number on a lab report. You don't need to hit a rock bottom. But without something you can name, the work tends not to stick.
What if someone else wants me to do this more than I do?
Then it's probably not the right time. Prepared Sobriety works when the decision is yours. If you're only considering it because a spouse, boss, or family member wants it, the preparation won't hold the way it needs to.