Session 7 - Relapse Prevention

Brief Couples Therapy: Group and Individual Couple Treatment for Addiction and Related Mental Health Concerns

For this session:

• Session Guidelines
  • Objectives
  • Checklist
• Session Resources
  • Materials
  • Summary
  • Tips for Individual Couple Session
• Client Handouts
  • Relapse Prevention/Maintenance
• Progress Note

Session Guidelines

Objectives

Couples will:

• continue to work towards improving their communication within their relationship
• continue building trust and intimacy
• begin to think about and define areas of relapse and relapse prevention.

Checklist

Guidelines for the counsellor with tips on what to do with or say to the client.

1. Check-in

   Ask about issues arising from the last session.

   “Name a thought, word or feeling that describes how you are right now.”

2. Stating the Format and Purpose of This Session

   “The purpose of the session is for members to discuss trust and intimacy. The homework will focus on relapse prevention.”

3. Reviewing Session Homework

   Discuss progress on issues related to trust and intimacy. Ask couples to talk about areas of trust and the degree of trust in their relationships. Put the emphasis on breaking issues into small, concrete steps, focusing on how couples can move forward in an active way.

4. Homework (Relapse Prevention/Maintenance)

   The focus of relapse prevention will be defined by couples’ issues discussed over the course of the therapy, such as the return to former patterns of behaviour, including substance use and its potential impact on the relationship. Hand out sheets with the following questions:

   • What is a relapse for you as a couple (e.g., communication breakdown; loss of trust; loss of intimacy, etc.)?
   • What would be the clues that a relapse has happened?
   • Describe a plan for preventing relapse. Be specific.

   Discuss the questions with the group members.

5. Check-out

   Ask each group member to state one positive word that he or she is thinking or a feeling that he or she is experiencing.

Session Resources

Materials

• pens and copies of Relapse Prevention exercise.

Summary

Check-in Name a thought/word/feeling and/or discuss issues arising from the last session. Stating the Format and Purpose of This Session Discuss trust and intimacy. Begin to think about possible plans for relapse prevention. Reviewing Session Homework Discuss issues related to trust and intimacy. Introducing, Describing and Handing Out Relapse Prevention Exercise Check-out

Tips for Individual Couple Session 7

• Use the time to explore and discuss issues relating to trust and intimacy.

Brief Couples Therapy

Acknowledgments

Introduction

• Assessment Session
• Session 1: Introduction
• Session 2: Genogram/Family Tree
• Session 3: Miracle Question
• Session 4: Goal Setting
• Session 5: Communication
• Session 6: Trust/Intimacy
• Session 7: Relapse Prevention
• Session 8: Conclusion

References

Appendix A: The Background of the Integrative Model

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