ACTIVITY: Relapse Prevention Cards

Purpose: This activity helps clients explore their pathways to relapse.

Materials Needed: Relapse prevention cards (click this link for the handout: RPcards)

Instructions/Steps:

1. Using the handout attached, print out each step along the pathway to relapse on separate sheets of paper or on index cards.
2. Make at least three sets of these cards.
3. Ask the group to get into smaller groups of 4 people each.
4. Shuffle the cards up and hand one set to each of the 4 smaller groups.
5. Let the group know that they have in their hands steps along the path to relapse. Relapse doesn’t just happen. There are so many markers along the way that tell us that relapse is ahead. Ask the groups to put together this pathway in the way that they see happen for themselves.  As a small group, ask them to discuss how their own relapses happened and see if they can agree on what this pathway might look like.
6. Remind them that there is no right answer. What is more important is that they explore their own experiences.
7. You may need to explain a few terms on the cards. Most are self-explanatory, the one that isn’t is abstinence violation effect (emotional response to the initial lapse – I’m a failure or Might as well go the whole way).
8. For a thorough and complete explanation of this relapse process, take a look at this excellent publication available at: https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh23-2/151-160.pdf
9. Once the groups are done, have them walk around the room and see how other groups organized the cards.
10. Now, as a larger group, go over Marlatt’s CB model describing the pathway he sees and strategies to manage every step of the pathway.

Tips and Talking Points

1. Clarify why it is so important to increase our awareness of the indicators that a relapse might be ahead
2. Help clients understand that they can attend to these antecedents of relapse and prevent a full-blown relapse
3. Be sure to discuss tips and strategies for each of the antecedents.

Starts the learning around: Relapse Prevention

If you need more explanation for this activity or the steps and strategies, please leave a comment or send me an email!