Emotions and Behaviours
Emotions are important too. People often use addictive behaviour
to cope with their emotional problems including anger, guilt,
anxiety and low self-esteem. We teach you how to diminish your
emotional disturbances and increase self-acceptance. Changing in
thinking and emotions are not enough. Commitment and follow
through are essential. We encourage participants to work at home
on problems and become involved in enjoyable activities in place
of their addictive activities.
“I suppose I had made the decision to give up drugs before I
came to the SMART group, what SMART did was give me
the tools to be able to stay off them”.
How Help is Provided
Our meeting format is straightforward and organized. Our leaders
are trained for the job. Some of them have had personal
experience with addiction. We offer both a mental health and
educational programme. We’re concerned with changing human
behaviour. Group meetings are serious but often fun. We don’t
spend a great deal of time on the past about which you can do
nothing, but concentrate on the present and future. We discuss
our problems with addictive activities and our difficulties in
recovery.
Do you want to be happier and more confident?
YOU CAN ACCESS SMART RECOVERY GROUPS IN:Tuesdays
10.30am - 12.30pm & alternate Tuesdays at 6.30pm
Bramery House
Alstone Lane
Cheltenham
www.smartrecovery.org.uk
info@smartrecovery.org.uk
Do you need support with….
Isolation. Mental Health. Anxiety. Anger. Drug Misuse.
Self Harm. Smoking Cessation. Fear. Eating Disorders.
Family Issues. Gambling. Phobias. Alcohol Misuse.
 Do you want a simple, common sense approach to
recovery?
 Do you want to learn how to better manage
destructive thoughts, feelings and behaviour?
 Do you want to take control of your recovery?
 Do you need support in helping friends and family in
their recovery?
 Do you want to use scientifically proven tools and
techniques to help you in your recovery?
Thursday Eve 4pm til 6pm
The Old School
Oakley Neighbourhood Project,
Whaddon, Cheltenham
SELF MANAGEMENT AND RECOVERY TRAINING
For more information about the
Oakley session ring Sharon
Bryson on 07787061146
 Would you like to help others with their recovery?
 Do you want to get on with the rest of your life and not
have to remind yourself what you did every day?
If you said yes to any of the above, SMART
Recovery may be what you’re looking for….
What is SMART Recovery?
The 4 Point Programme
1. Enhancing and Maintaining Motivation to Abstain.
2. Coping with Urges.
3. Problem Solving.
4. Lifestyle Balance.
The Approach
Relaxed group sessions
Teaches self-empowerment and self-reliance
Teaches tools and techniques for self-directed change
Encourages individuals to recover and live satisfying lives
Meetings are informative and include open discussions
Advocates the appropriate use of prescribed medication and
psychological treatments
Evolves as scientific knowledge evolves
Confidential- what’s said in the group stays in the group
What is SMART Recovery?
SMART Recovery is a peer led, non-profit, international
organisation which provides free self-help groups and related
services for individuals wishing to learn more about substance or
activity addiction. It is present in many different countries across
the globe and has been in existence for over 12 years. The
SMART Recovery programme is evidence based, teaches selfempowerment, and uses cognitive behavioural and motivational
enhancement techniques to help participants achieve abstinence.
Based on Current Self Help Theory
Addictive behaviour can serve a purpose, to cope with life’s
problems and emotional upsets. However many problems arise
from heavy drinking, drug using, gambling, over eating and other
excesses. To help reverse your self-destructive behaviours, we
use cognitive behavioural (thinking/doing) psychotherapy called
REBT. Psychologist Albert Ellis devised the system in the 1950’s.
According to REBT, thinking creates your feelings and leads you
to act. By changing the beliefs and emotions that lead you to
continue an addictive activity, you can empower yourself to quit.
Then you can work at problems you have with abstaining. We are
not concerned with the past except to learn from it. We focus on
present day events and causes of self-destructive behaviour. We
concentrate on what to do about them in order to achieve a
positive lifestyle change.
Motives and Goals
Motivation is a key element in nearly all you do. Consider this, we
have two primary goals: survival and happiness. You can increase
awareness of your motives for addictive behaviour and of your
reasons for quitting. Then you feel better about changing your
behaviour. We will help show you how.
Beliefs
What you believe about your addiction is important and there are
many ideas being tossed around about addiction and recovery.
You may believe for example that you have an incurable disease,
that you have a genetic defect, that you’re powerless, or that after
the first lapse into addictive behaviour you have to lose all selfcontrol. “I’ve tried and failed, so I can’t do it. I need my
alcohol/food/bet/drug to cope”, or “because I’ve tried to quit and
failed, I’m no good.” These beliefs may be true or false. We will
help you decide if your beliefs are helpful or unhelpful for you
personally.