Abstract
This research paper reports on a qualitative, grounded theory study of 30 women's progress toward recovery. It identifies processes of "relapsing," "running," and "relieving" and organizes them into an integrated model for high-risk behavior for women in recovery. The model explores high-risk behavior through the dimensions of internality and externality and finds that the process of recovery for women is not linear. The development of this model is important in helping women at various points in the recovery process; alerting these women to issues that they may not completely understand; and giving treatment professionals a strengths-based perspective from which to examine this phenomenon.