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All Pathways to Recovery drop in group
Goal: Explore different approaches to recovery and identify what helps his recovery and what hinders it.

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
Mutual Support Groups
o Recovery Dharma
o SMART
o LifeRing
o 12 Step
o Celebrate Recovery
o Milati islam
o Jewish alcoholics, chemically
dependent Persons, and
Significant Others
o Moderation Management
o Phoenix Multisport
o Refuge Recovery
o Wellbriety - na
o White Bison - na
o Secular Organizations for
Sobriety
MAT
o Functional Medicine
o Neurotransmitter Restoration
Therapy
o Nutrient therapies – Alliance for
Addiction solutions
o The MARS Project
Peer Based
o Recovery Coaches
o Recovery Life Coaching Services
o Crossroads Recovery Life
Coaching
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
o Recovery Art Studio
Online
o WEconnect
o Recovery 2.0 r20
o Reddit r/stopdrinking, r/leaves,
r/petioles, r/opiates
o In the Rooms
o 7Cups
Therapy
o Expressive therapies
o The Artist’s Way
o CBT
o WRAP
o Animal Assisted Therapy
o MBRP
o Contingency Management
o Motivation Enhancement
Therapy
Holistic approaches
o Yoga
o meditation
o Mindfulness
o Reiki
o Reflexology
o Aromatherapy
o Acupuncture
o Exercise
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Pathway: Art Therapy
Activity: First Step Series: The Recovery Bridge
Materials:
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Paper
Colored pencils/markers
Pencil
1. Directions:

Draw a bridge that shows where you have been, where you are now,
and where you want to be in relation to your recovery.
Reflection:
After completing your image, answer the following questions about your image:
1. Where does your bridge come from? What are you leaving behind?
2. Where does your bridge lead? What is on the other side?
3. Where are you on your bridge currently?
4. Which direction(s) does traffic travel across the bridge? Which direction are you headed right now?
5. What is your bridge made of? How stable/supported is it?
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6. What is under your bridge?
7. How connected is your bridge to the places on either side?
8. What is it like to be on this bridge?
Answer these questions in relation to your current recovery:
1. Are there things you feel you will have to lose in order to have a stable recovery?
2. What will you gain once you are able to maintain your recovery?
3. Do you feel your current behavior/activities are bringing you closer to recovery?
4. What is supporting your recovery now? Do you feel you need more supports?
5. What are your fears about recovering? What could go wrong?
6. How do you feel about your recovery at the moment?
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Pathway: Art Therapy
Activity: First Step Series: One Year from Now

Materials:
o Paper- two pieces, or folded in half
o Colored pencils/markers
o Pencil/pen

Directions:
a. Create an image of yourself as you imagine you will be in a year if you continue to make the
changes that support recovery.
b. Create an image of yourself as you imagine you will be in a year if you do not make the
changes.
Reflection:
After completing your image, answer the following questions:
1. Where would you like to be this month next year? What do you hope your life is like?
2. How confident do you feel that you can get there?
3. How different or similar are your two images?
4. Is it easier to imagine yourself making the changes necessary, or staying the same?
5. What is one thing you do now that will help your life look like the first picture (recovery) in a year?
6. What is one thing you do now that could lead your life to look like the second picture (without
recovery) in a year?
7. What is one step you could start taking (that you aren’t currently doing) to get your life to look like
the first image (recovery)?
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Pathway: Art Therapy
Activity: First Step Series: Barriers to Recovery

Materials:
o Paper
o Colored pencils/markers
o Pencil/pen

Directions:
1. Create an image representing the barriers you see to making the changes necessary for
recovery. Use words, pictures, colors, etc. to show what you feel you will have to overcome
to maintain recovery.
Reflection:
1. What barriers to change have you already overcome?
2. Are there a lot of barriers to making the changes necessary for recovery? How big or small are they?
3. How close are you to getting over any of these barriers?
4. Are the barriers things you can overcome alone? If not, what support will you need to overcome
them?
5. Which barrier is the scariest to approach? Why?
6. What can you do tomorrow that will get you closer to passing one of your barriers?
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Pathway: Art Therapy
Activity: First Step Series: Cost-Benefits Collage
(A collage is a picture made of different materials/images glued onto on paper.)
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Materials:
o Paper
o Magazines
o Scissors, glue sticks
Directions:
1. Make a collage exploring the costs and benefits of staying the same, and the costs and
benefits of changing.
o Cut images and or words from the magazines and add them to your paper, feel free
to add your own drawing/writing as well.
Reflection:
1. Does your image(s) have more costs, or more benefits for changing? For staying the same?
2. Do you feel the benefits of changing cancel out the costs right now?
3. What cost will be the biggest loss for you if you change?
4. What cost will be the biggest loss for you if you stay the same?
5. Can you get any of the benefits of staying the same in healthier ways?
6. Do the costs of staying the same or the costs of changing feel bigger to you?
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Pathway: Mutual Support Groups
Activity: LifeRing Secular Recovery

Materials:
o LifeRing Empower your Sober Self Pamphlet
o Pen and this paper

Directions:
1. Read the LifeRing Pamphlet to learn about their structure.
2. Read the meeting closing below.
3. Answer the questions at the end.
“The outside world little understands or appreciates our recovery journey. They tend to believe
that we can 'just say no' and be done with it. But we who fight this battle every day know the
inner struggles we go through and the work that's involved in rebuilding our lives. We
appreciate the courage that it takes to be here. We know the sweetness of the victory that each
sober day signifies. We applaud one another, and ourselves, for our success in being here clean
and sober today. If someone among us has tripped and fallen, we applaud them all the more
strongly for coming back. We applaud to express our confidence that we can meet our challenges
in the coming week. Recovery is an estimable project, and we have earned the self-esteem that
we feel today. We are heroes and winners in each other’s eyes.” – Martin Nicolaus
Discussion:
1. How was your week in recovery?
a. What are the highlights of the week?
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b. What are the heartaches of the week?
2. What does next week look like for your recovery?
a. What challenges to your recovery might come up next week?
i. And what’s something you can do to make them easier/protect your recovery?
b. What celebrations in recovery might come up next week? What are you looking forward to?
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Pathway: Art Therapy
Activity: Pathways to Recovery - Personal Vision of Recovery

Materials:
o Large paper
o Magazines, pictures
o scissors and glue/tape
o markers, colored pencils, etc.
 Directions:
1) Answer the following questions:
a) List some of your top values:
b) What makes you different? List some things that are unique about you:
c) In one month, I would like to:
d) In one year, I would like to
e) What is one thing you want? Be precise:
f)
What do you want to accomplish? Why?
g) If I could invent the future, what would it look like?
h) What does my ideal living environment look like?
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i)
Who would be in this environment? Who would not? Why?
j)
What do I want to prove to myself? What do I want to prove to others? Why?
2) Create your personal recovery vision collage
a) Cut out pictures that show what your preferred future looks like. Add quotes or words that
are positive and meaningful to you. Illustrate your vision poster by adding drawings or
doodles. You may want to embellish your collage with stickers, glitter, ribbon or anything
you find attractive. Consider your answers to the questions above when building your vision
of recovery.
b) Once you complete your collage, display it in a place where you will see it regularly to
remind you of what you are striving for.
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Pathway: Relapse Prevention
Activity: Impulse Control
1. Read the handout on impulse control.
2. Answer these questions:
a. Do you feel you struggle with impulse control?
b. How has acting on impulse impacted you in the past?
c. Which of the 10 coping skills for preventing and managing impulses do you use most
often?
d. Which of the 10 coping skills for preventing and managing impulses do you need to
practice the most?
3. Consider the following scenarios and describe how someone might respond impulsively, and
what a well thought out response could be:
a. You are in a crowded area and a person near you keeps on bumping into you over and
over without even acknowledging you, and they have been talking loudly on the phone
the whole time.
i. Impulsive response:
ii. Well thought out response:
b. You go to your neighbor’s apartment, and you are greeted by their very attractive
fiancée who tells you that your neighbor won’t be home for at least an hour if you want
to hook up.
i. Impulsive response:
ii. Well thought out response:
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c. You stop at an old friend’s apartment and he shows you a large bag containing a lot of
your drug of choice. He looks like he is already intoxicated and he invites you to come in
and join him free of charge.
i. Impulsive response:
ii. Well thought out response:
d. You have been talking to someone special and you really like them. They have a similar
history as you, and say they are trying to better themselves. They tell you they are
leaving treatment (but did not complete their program) and are ready to get back to
regular life without the supports. They ask you to leave the Hello House so you can be
together instead. You are on Phase 1.
i. Impulsive response:
ii. Well thought out response:
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Pathway: Mutual Support Groups
Activity: SMART Recovery mock meeting

Directions: Read about SMART Recovery below, then answer the questions on the back.
The SMART Recovery 4-Point Program®
As you may have already seen, the SMART Recovery program is based
around our science-based 4-Point Program®, which helps individuals gain
independence from addiction of all kinds, including substances or activities
(behaviors). Our 4-Point Program® includes many ideas and techniques to
help you change your life from one that is self-destructive and unhappy to one
that is constructive and satisfying. Our efforts are based on scientific
knowledge and evolve as scientific knowledge evolves.
The 4 Points include:
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Point 1 – Building and Maintaining Motivation
Point 2 – Coping with Urges
Point 3 – Managing Thoughts, Feelings and Behaviors
Point 4 – Living a Balanced Life
While these points are listed in order, that does not necessarily mean one
might go straight through from point 1 to point 4. There may be many ups and
downs in a person’s recovery. This is not considered a failure but more about
using the tools that are suggested in each of the 4 points to help them get
back on track. These tools are also referred to as life tools and can continue
to help a person throughout their lifetime.
What You Need to Know Before Attending Your
First SMART Meeting
Now that you have been introduced to our 4-Point Program®, let’s get you
ready to attend a meeting. To help you feel more comfortable about walking
into a SMART Recovery meeting (in-person or online) for the first time, we
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have provided some important facts about our organization’s unique and
welcoming approach to meetings.
1. You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. Our meetings often start with
a check-in. Typically, this includes a brief introduction to yourself and how you
came across SMART Recovery. Good news – you’re not obligated to checkin. In fact, it’s important to know that you don’t have to talk at all during the
meeting if you’re not comfortable doing so. Click here to see a basic meeting
outline.
2. Our program does not rely on a higher power. At SMART Recovery, we
believe that the power to change addictive behaviors resides within each
individual and does not depend upon adherence to any spiritual viewpoint.
While this is true, the use of religious or spiritual beliefs and practices in
recovery is a personal choice, and many choose to combine their beliefs with
our program.
3. Self-management is an important part of our program. As found in our
name – Self-Managementand Recovery Training – we believe that everyone
has the power within themselves to change and to build the life they want to
live. You are in charge of your recovery and the decisions you make in your
journey. It is also important to understand that we do not require you to accept
the guidance of a sponsor, or commit to any requirements other than the
goals of recovery that you set for yourself.
4. It doesn’t matter what you’re dealing with – no one will judge or label
you. No matter your addiction – drugs, alcohol, shopping, eating, relationships
– you can feel comfortable coming to SMART Recovery meetings, interacting
with our community and utilizing our tools. You can also feel comfortable
knowing that no one will label you an “alcoholic”, an “addict” or “diseased” nor
“powerless”, and if you do not believe in a religion or spirituality, that’s fine,
too.
5. SMART Recovery focuses on your recovery story and not
your war stories. Because we are so focused on the good that you are doing
in your life, we will not let you or anyone in our meetings dwell for long on the
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challenges you’ve faced to this point. Our meetings are focused on helping
you get from where you are today to the person you want to become and
quality of life you want to have.
6. We won’t judge you for slips, lapses or relapses. At SMART Recovery,
we do not believe a lapse or return to usage means you are starting over.
Instead, should a recurrence happen, we encourage you to use what is
learned to move closer to your end goals. You are always welcome at our
meetings and will not feel judged should you find yourself in this situation.
7. We welcome individuals at meetings using appropriately prescribed
medications for many purposes. SMART has always welcomed people at
meetings using appropriately prescribed medications for many purposes,
including treatment of mental health conditions, initial withdrawal from
substance use and recovery from addiction.
8. Our meetings belong to the attendees. This means that although there is
a facilitator present, the facilitator’s role in the meeting is not to present for an
audience, but instead to encourage peer support and discussions amongst
the participants. Facilitators often find themselves joining into conversations,
explaining and recommending a variety of SMART tools and resources that
can be applied to an individual or group’s situation, and simply helping to
ensure the meeting keeps moving and is conducive.
9. We have a variety of tools available to aid in your recovery. Tools are a
large part of our discussion at meetings. We have several tools available –
from a change plan worksheet and a cost/benefit analysis, to roleplaying/rehearsing and unconditional self-acceptance. Our tools and
techniques are based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and rational
emotive behavioral therapy (REBT). We encourage individuals to find the
tools and techniques that work best for you in your journey. Over time, as you
continue to master them, they will become a part of your everyday life and
these skills will help you cope and deal with troubling situations related and
unrelated to your addiction. Click here to view our SMART Recovery Toolbox
to see some of the tools and worksheets available.
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10. SMART Recovery Online (often seen on our site as SROL) is a great
option, too. Perhaps there isn’t an in-person meeting close to your
hometown. Or, you feel more comfortable dipping your toe in the water before
jumping all in and coming to a meeting. You can feel free to check out our
online community, where we have daily online meetings, as well as 24x7x365
message board forums and chat rooms. SMART Recovery is available to you
when you need it. Visit smartrecovery.org/community/ to learn more about our
online community.
So, will SMART Recovery work for you?
Due to the self-empowering nature of SMART Recovery, we can’t answer that
for you. We want it to work for you. It has worked for many others and
we believe it can work for you, too. But, the only way you’ll get your answer is
if you give it a try and give it your all.
To find a SMART meeting (online or in-person) visit here
About SMART Recovery
Founded in 1994, SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training) uses
science-based techniques that have proven to be effective in helping people
recover from addiction problems involving any substance or behavior,
including such things as alcohol, drugs, gambling, over-eating, shopping and
internet use.
Each week, many thousands of people discuss recovery progress and
challenges at more than 3,000 meetings in 23 countries, 25 online gatherings
and 24/7/365 internet message board forums and chat rooms.
Participants use SMART to assume responsibility for their own recovery and
become empowered using its 4-Point Program®: building motivation; coping
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with urges; managing thoughts, feelings and behaviors; and living a balanced
life.
For more information, please visit www.smartrecovery.org.
Response:
1. What would you like us to know?
2. This exercise is based on the SMART Recovery tool ABC for Emotional Upsets (Activating event,
underlying Belief, and emotional or behavioral Consequence):
a) What has been a "blessing in disguise" experience for you? What happened you initially
viewed as a disaster, but later viewed as a blessing or opportunity? How did your thinking
change exactly?
b) What belief would you most like to develop?
3. How do SMART Recovery meetings differ from traditional 12 step meetings?
4. Do you think SMART Recovery meetings would be helpful to add to your recovery?
5. What has kept you from going to SMART Recovery meetings? If you have been, what do you
like/dislike about them?
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Pathway: Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy – REBT
Activity: ABCDE model
The main idea of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is that how we think directly influences any
emotional and behavioral problems we experience. When using REBT, an individual is directed to identify
inaccurate or irrational thoughts and beliefs that trigger emotional and behavioral issues and interfere
with our positive functioning overall. REBT says these negative thoughts can be challenged, argued
against and then changed for the better. This leads to improved emotions and behaviors.

ABCDE Model:
A. Activating Event/Adversity: Something happens that triggers negative thoughts or feelings.
(Usually something perceived as negative or challenging)
B. Belief: You form a belief about the event that is different from the actual truth and is therefore
unhealthy
C. Consequences: This distorted or irrational belief triggers negative emotional and behavioral
outcomes in our lives
D. Disputes (Arguments): This is where healing begins. You challenge your irrational beliefs by
coming up with evidence to help you tell yourself that your irrational beliefs are not true. This
becomes the basis for forming new more positive and more accurate and realistic beliefs
E. Effect: Once you have effectively countered your irrational beliefs consistently, you will begin to
experience new, positive emotional and behavioral outcomes with time
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

 Example:
Activating Event/Adversity: I asked out the person I’m really into and they said they were not
interested.
Belief: “No one wants me,” “I’m not attractive enough,” “I’ll always be alone.”
Consequences:
 Feelings- Sad, lonely, dejected
 Behaviors- Isolation, avoiding others, bad habits to cope
Disputes (Arguments): This is where healing begins. “Just because one person didn’t want to go
out with me doesn’t mean no one will ever date me,” “One rejection doesn’t mean I’m
undesirable to everyone,” “There are other fish in the sea”
Effect:
 Feelings: Acceptance (You win some, you lose some, but you don’t quit), relief (to know
the answer)
 Behaviors: Keep trying, focus on being the best you for the next possible relationship,
good habits- walking, drawing, talking with positive friends/family
Materials:
➢ Insight and Self Awareness – Willingness to look inside yourself and be honest about your thoughts,
beliefs and feelings
➢ Adaptability and Flexibility - Ability to be open minded to change thinking to a more positive reality
even if it is challenging at first.
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➢ Consistency and Persistency – Sticking with the new positive way of thinking until it becomes a new
positive belief See if you have what it takes to apply the ABCDE model from REBT
See if you have what it takes to apply the ABCDE model from REBT!!
Reflection:
1. Think of one Adversity/Activating Event (a real one from your own life is best, but if you absolutely
cannot think of one, make up an interesting one). This could be an event from the past week that
triggers negative thoughts and feelings such as:
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disappointment
loss
guilt
failure
stress that is difficult to cope with
A repeated mistake
Etc.
2. Complete the ABCDE Model for this event:
A. Activating Event/Adversity:
B. Belief: (What negative things did your brain tell you?)
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C. Consequences: (What are the results of your negative beliefs?)

Feelings-

Behaviors-
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D. Disputes (Arguments): (Think of realistic evidence that shows your negative beliefs are
inaccurate and form new more positive, accurate, and realistic beliefs)
*If you can’t think of any evidence against your negative beliefs, identify any solid evidence that
backs up your beliefs*
-
E. Effect: (What are the results of accepting the new, positive beliefs?)

Feelings-

Behaviors-
3. Do you feel you can use the ABCDE model in your own life in an effective way going forward?
If so, how? If not, why not?
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Pathway: Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention
Activity: Relapse Symptom Line

Materials:
 Blank paper
 Pen/pencil or coloring utensils
If we plan to avoid relapse, we have to know the signs that one is approaching. There are specific behaviors,
attitudes, and feelings that begin even before we lapse. If you know what these symptoms are for yourself, you will
be able to see a relapse coming. If you can’t see it coming, you can’t do anything to avoid it. This activity will help
you look at your pattern of relapses and evaluate the circumstances around them. You will hopefully clarify triggers
that make you vulnerable to relapse, so that you can develop your coping skills to deal with them. You will need to
think back on your history of (re)lapses and the circumstances around them. If this feels too overwhelming, think
more generally about your patterns, and any sings you have noticed in others. Some of us have had a very long
journey with substance use, so feel free to skip some events between the date of your first relapse and your most
recent relapses, be sure to include at least five relapses including your first and last.
Lapse v relapse – make timeline w/o details then consider the answers after.

Directions:
1. Holding your paper long ways, draw a line across your paper to serve as a timeline. It may be
helpful to use different colors for start of use, relapses, and clean dates. (If your
handwriting/amount of information may not allow you to fit it all on a timeline, you can also
write it in list form in order of what happened.)
a. Your line should start with the date/age that substance abuse started. You may have more
than one start date if multiple substances have been used, add them in order on your
timeline as well.
b. The next event on your symptom line will be the first time you became clean and sober. This
can be by choice or accident. Include the following:
(1) When: time of day, day of week, or special circumstances in which this occurred.
(2) Where: the location that you made this decision/change.
(3) Who: What people influenced you or supported you at that time.
(4) Why: what circumstances made you become clean at that time.
(5) Feelings: emotions you were experiencing around the time you got clean
c. Next, try to remember your first (re)lapse, and add it to the line. Include the following:
(1) What: substance used
(2) When: time of day, day of week, or special event that led to use.
(3) Where: the location that you began to use the substance.
(4) Who: Who did you use with? If you used alone, who/where did you get your supply
from?
(5) Why: what circumstances surrounded the relapse?
(6) Feelings: emotions you were experiencing at the time of relapse
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d. If you have had many (re)lapses, you can add “||” on your line where you’d like to skip
ahead in time. If you have the space/desire feel free to include more than five relapses on
your timeline.
e. Next, add your following relapses and clean dates on your line. Include what, when, where,
who, why, and feelings for that time. Add at least 5 relapses including your first and last. If
you have had less than 5 lapses, include them all.
f. If your most recent clean date will be in the future, look at the details of your previous clean
dates, and guess the when, where, who, why, and feelings that may occur when you make
that choice.
Reflection:
Relapse:
4. What pattern do you see regarding where the substance abuse occurred at times of relapse?
5. What pattern can you find regarding who was with you/you acquired the substance from
when you relapsed into substance abuse?
6. What pattern is there for when the relapse happened?
7. What patterns do you see in why the relapses occur?
8. What feelings are commonly experienced prior to relapse?
9. What have you learned about your relapse triggers and warning signs?
10. What should you look out for in yourself that may suggest you are vulnerable to relapse?
Clean time:
1. What pattern do you see regarding where you were during clean times?
2. What pattern can you find regarding who was with you/supported when you got clean?
3. What pattern is there for when clean time happened?
4. What patterns do you see in why you get clean?
5. What feelings are commonly experienced when choosing sobriety?
6. What have you learned about your ability to get clean?
7. What things should you keep in your life to help you stay clean?
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Pathway: Internal Family Systems
IFS Reparenting and Inner Child techniques teach us to give ourselves the love and support you needed, but did not
receive as a child – and to practice this in our day-to-day life.
Activity: Inner Parent Writing

Materials:
 Something to write with
 This handout and/or paper to write on

Directions:
Make cards w fictional parents on them, ask if they know anyone that fits IRL, use character or real
example, everyone write down problems, each respond as they think their character would.
Uncle Phill
Clair Huxtable
Brady bunch Nanny
Full house adults
Mrs doubt fire
Jim carey
1) Choose 3 people (real or imagined) that are consistently is loving, compassionate, and responsible.
(Is there a part of you (no matter how small) that is loving, compassionate, and responsible? If you
can imagine this part of yourself, use them as one of your Inner Parent Characters.)
1. Inner Parent Character:
a. How does this person show they are loving?
b. How does this person show they are compassionate?
c. How does this person show they are responsible?
d. Do they feel like a good fit to imagine as an inner parent? Why/not?
2) Choose 1 or more person from your list to imagine as your inner parent(s). Answer the following for
each of them:
1. Name:
a. Why are they the way they are?
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b. How do they operate in hard times?
c. What do they believe about other people?
d. How do they treat themselves?
e. How do they treat others?
Reflection:
1. Explain a recent problem or thought that has been challenging for you to your chosen inner
Parent(s):
2. What do your Inner Parent(s) say to you about this?
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3. Does their response change how you feel about this situation or thought?
IRL: Throughout your week, notice when you feel shame or guilt and write out or imagine a conversation
with your Inner Parent(s). Start by explaining the situation and see what they have to say about it.
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Pathway: Art Therapy
Activity: Self-Transformation Portraits
You will create three self-portraits using any materials you like, such as drawing, painting, or a collage.
These three images will together form a mural that shows your recovery process.


Materials:
o 3 pieces of paper
o Pencil, pen, markers, colored pencils, etc.
o Scissors, glue sticks, magazines optional
Directions:
1. Think about an experience or event that has affected you negatively. It can be something
from a long time ago, or it can be about your recent difficulties with substance abuse. The
piece will be a reflection of how you felt during this negative event, including any words that
represent your emotions.
2. Show where you are at this moment with your recovery journey. What have you discovered
about yourself so far since beginning treatment?
3. The final piece will show a hopeful future of sobriety, better coping skills, and improved
mental health. Think about what you hope to achieve and how it will feel when you
accomplish these milestones.
4. Hang up or lay out your three portraits in order, to create a mural of transformation. Take a
moment to consider your images together and how they are similar or different to each
other. Come up with a title for you transformation mural (all three images together);
_______________________________________________________________
Reflection:
1. What do you notice about your first portrait?
2. What do you notice about your second portrait?
3. What do you notice about your third portrait?
4. Is your second image closer to the first, or the last? How can you tell?
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5. What helped you get from where you were in the first image to where you are now in the second?
6. What things do you need to get from where you are now in the second image, to where you hope to
be in the last image?
7. What are some steps you still need to take to get to the last portrait?
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Pathway: Relapse Prevention
Activity: Relapse Justification
Relapse justification is a process that happens in people’s minds. If a decision has been made to stop
using but the addiction still has strength, the game gets tricky. The addicted part of the brain invents
excuses that move the addicted person close enough to relapse situations that accidents can and do
happen. You may remember times when you were planning to stay drug and alcohol free and such a
situation happened and you found yourself using again.
Write one or two thoughts your brain has told you that fit into each of the reasons we can justify relapse
below:
1. Accidentally/Other People: Your addicted brain tries to convince you that you had no choice, or
that you were caught off-guard by something unexpected.

What’s a rational thought that could help you debunk the thought from your addicted
brain?
2. Catastrophic events: Your addicted brain tries to convince you that there is no reason not to use,
or that there is enough of a reason to use in the face of a major challenging event.

Is there one unlikely major event that is the only reason you would allow yourself to
use?

How would using improve the situation?

What’s a rational thought that could help you debunk the thought from your addicted
brain?
3. For a Specific Purpose: Your addicted brain suggests that using a certain substance is the only
way to accomplish something (ie. focus, energy, sleeping, socializing, relaxing).
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
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What’s a rational thought that could help you debunk the thought from your addicted
brain (What’s another way to accomplish the thing)?
4. Depression, Anger, Loneliness, Fear: Your addicted brain tries to convince you your feelings are
too strong to control your actions, go away without using, or ever resolve.

What’s a rational thought that could help you debunk the thought from your addicted
brain?
5. Addiction is Cured: Your addicted brain tries to convince you that you can use just once/just a
little or a different substance.

What’s a rational thought that could help you debunk the thought from your addicted
brain?
6. Testing yourself: Your addicted brain tries to convince you that you’re stronger than substances,
and wants to prove/test that idea.

What’s a rational thought that could help you debunk the thought from your addicted
brain?
7. Celebrating: Your addicted brain (and sometimes other people) try to convince you that doing
well, experiencing a special event, or being in good spirits means you can use “just one time”.

What’s a rational thought that could help you debunk the thought from your addicted
brain?
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Pathway: Relapse Prevention
Activity: Relapse Justification
Relapse justification is a process that happens in people’s minds. If a decision has been made to stop
using but the addiction still has strength, the game gets tricky. The addicted part of the brain invents
excuses that move the addicted person close enough to relapse situations that accidents can and do
happen. You may remember times when you were planning to stay drug and alcohol free and such a
situation happened and you found yourself using again.
Write down thoughts your brain has told you that fit into each of the reasons we can justify relapse
below:
1. Accidentally/Other People: Your addicted brain tries to convince you that you had no choice, or that
you were caught off-guard by something unexpected.
2. Catastrophic events: Your addicted brain tries to convince you that there is no reason not to use, or
that there is enough of a reason to use in the face of a major challenging event.
3. For a Specific Purpose: Your addicted brain suggests that using a certain substance is the only way to
accomplish something (ie. focus, energy, sleeping, socializing, relaxing).
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4. Depression, Anger, Loneliness, Fear: Your addicted brain tries to convince you your feelings are too
strong to control your actions, go away without using, or ever resolve.
5. Addiction is Cured: Your addicted brain tries to convince you that you can use just once/just a little
or a different substance.
6. Testing yourself: Your addicted brain tries to convince you that you’re stronger than substances, and
wants to prove/test that idea.
7. Celebrating: Your addicted brain (and sometimes other people) try to convince you that doing well,
experiencing a special event, or being in good spirits means you can use “just one time”.
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Pathway:
Activity: Downward Spiral Board Game
“Downward Spiral takes players on a journey that is plagued with pitfalls due to continued drug use.
Health problems, loss of social support, loss of self-esteem, financial difficulties, and jail terms are all
part of the game. Factual information supports negative consequences whenever possible. Quotes are
also used to capture the flavor of certain consequences. In the Downward Spiral, the odds are truly
stacked against you. You will most likely lose everything dear to you, including your health, family, and
possessions. Luck and the decisions you make determine how long it takes before you succumb to the
mounting dangers of continued substance abuse.”

Materials:
o Gameboard, score sheets, card sheets
o 3 Dice, or use rolladie.net (3 dice 6 sided)
o A coin, pebble, or small item to use as a game piece
o A friend/opponent (optional)

Directions:
1. .
Reflection:
8. What do you notice about your first portrait?
9. What do you notice about your second portrait?
10. What do you notice about your third portrait?
11. Is your second image closer to the first, or the last? How can you tell?
12. What helped you get from where you were in the first image to where you are now in the second?
13. What things do you need to get from where you are now in the second image, to where you hope to
be in the last image?
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14. What are some steps you still need to take to get to the last portrait?
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Pathway: Strengths Based Model
Activity: Tower of Strengths
The Strengths Model focuses on the collaboration between you and your clinicians to identify your
strengths and abilities and create a plan based on these strengths and your own goals rather than ones
created by the clinician without your input. Much of treatment may seem to focus on what you are
challenged by or struggle with, and a strengths based approach can help you identify how you can use
your own strengths to further your recovery.
 Materials:
o Strengths list
o “Parts of you” Explanation sheet
o Tower of Strengths worksheet
o Pen/pencil

Directions:
1. Read the “parts of you” explanations and consider your strengths in each part
2. Choose 10 strengths you currently have, and fill in the “Foundation of Actual Strengths”
section of the Tower (choose from the list or fill in your own)
3. In the box next to each strength, write the letter (S, T, H, E, M, L) of the part it belongs to
4. On the bottom flag, fill in the number of strengths you’ve chosen for each part
5. Draw a picture or write a phrase to represent each strength
6. Looking at the list of strengths, identify five strengths you don’t currently have that you
would like to have.
7. Put the strength you would like the most at the top of your tower
8. Fill in the other spaces with your desired strengths and the letter of the part it is in
9. On the top flag, fill in how many desired strengths you’ve chosen for each part
10. Answer questions below
Reflection:
1. Choose one of your “Actual Strengths”:
a. Discuss how you’ve used this strength in the past
b. How could this strength be used in your recovery?
c. Is this always a strength, or can it also be a problem?
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2. Which “Part of you” is the strongest based on your current strengths? Which is weakest?
3. Choose one of your “Desired Strengths”:
a. Why do you want to develop this strength?
b. What can you do to develop it?
c. How difficult do you think it will be to develop/ Why?
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