Addiction Treatment Homework Planner

James R. Finley, Brenda S. Lenz, David J. Berghuis, James R. Finley, Brenda S. Lenz

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781119278061
• Edition: 5
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Addiction in Psychology
• Index: Psychology

Help clients suffering from chemical and nonchemical addictions develop the skills they need to work through problems.

The Addiction Treatment Homework Planner, Fifth Edition provides you with an array of ready-to-use, between-session assignments designed to fit virtually every therapeutic mode. This easy-to-use sourcebook features:

• 100 ready-to-copy exercises covering the most common issues encountered by clients suffering from chemical and nonchemical addictions, such as anxiety, impulsivity, childhood trauma, dependent traits, and occupational problems
• A quick-reference format—the interactive assignments are grouped by behavioral problems including alcoholism, nicotine dependence, and sleep disturbance as well as those problems that do not involve psychoactive substances, such as problem gambling, eating disorders, and sexual addictions
• Expert guidance on how and when to make the most efficient use of the exercises
• Assignments that are cross-referenced to The Addiction Treatment Planner, Fifth Edition so you can quickly identify the right exercise for a given situation or problem
• All exercises are available online for you to download and customize to suit you and your clients' unique styles and needs

SECTION 1:
ADULT-CHILD-OF-AN-ALCOHOLIC (ACA) TRAITS

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Therapist’s Overview

ADDRESSING ACA TRAITS IN RECOVERY

GOALS OF THE EXERCISE

1. Implement a plan for recovery from addiction that reduces the impact of adult-child-of-an-alcoholic (ACA) traits on sobriety.
2. Decrease dependence on relationships while beginning to meet one’s own needs.
3. Reduce the frequency of behaviors that are exclusively designed to please others.
4. Choose partners and friends who are responsible, respectful, and reliable.
5. Overcome fears of abandonment, loss, and neglect.
6. Understand the feelings that resulted from being raised in an addictive environment and reduce feelings of alienation by seeing similarities to others raised in non-addictive homes.

ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS FOR WHICH THIS EXERCISE MAY BE USEFUL

• Borderline Traits
• Dependent Traits
• Partner Relationship Conflicts
• Sexual Promiscuity

SUGGESTIONS FOR PROCESSING THIS EXERCISE WITH THE CLIENT

The “Addressing ACA Traits in Recovery” activity is for clients with patterns of co-dependent relationships, enmeshment, boundary issues, and burnout in love, friendship, and workplace relationships. It teaches clients about addictive relationship dynamics, then heightens motivation by focusing on the threat this poses to recovery, ending by directing clients to further exploration of issues of codependency. Follow-up may include discussing the issue with the therapist, group, and sponsor; support group referrals; bibliotherapy; and videotherapy (e.g., Rent Two Films and Let’s Talk in the Morning by John W. Hesley and Jan G. Hesley, also published by Wiley).

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EXERCISE 1.A

ADDRESSING ACA TRAITS IN RECOVERY

Adult children of alcoholics, or ACAs, are adults who grew up in families where one or both parents chronically abused alcohol and/or other drugs, suffered from other mental illness, or had other problems that made them unable to meet their children’s needs. When those children become adults, they may have feelings and behavior patterns that resemble those of their parents, especially in relationships. This can happen whether or not they abuse alcohol or other drugs—ACAs often become “addicted” to unhealthy patterns and people in their love, friendship, and work relationships. They are drawn to situations that feel in some ways like their childhood family life, and to people who treat them in ways similar to the ways their parents treated them and others. ACAs often fall into the trap of trying to please, “fix,” or “save” others, and their own lives are left in turmoil. Their motives are caring, but their efforts to please or rescue others seldom work. The results cause these ACAs great emotional pain and may put them in dangerous situations or lead to a work-related cycle of starting new jobs with great hope and energy but ending up burning out on those jobs or careers. No one can really control anyone else; other people’s troubles are mostly caused by patterns only they can change, so trying to change them leads to one painful disappointment after another. As part of your recovery, this activity will help you learn to recognize and change these patterns, which are also often called codependency.

1. There are reasons we’re drawn to relationships in which we try harder to solve other people’s problems than they do. If we are ACAs, these patterns often echo those we experienced in our families as children. It’s as if we’re trying to replay the same story and get it to have a happy ending. Have any of the feelings listed here drawn you into painful relationships or situations in love, friendship, and/or workplace situations?
   _____ You felt sure that if you tried hard enough, you could win approval.
   _____ You felt needed.
   _____ It was intense and exciting from the start.
   _____ You felt intensely and magnetically drawn to the other person.
   _____ They made you feel strong, smart, and capable.
   _____ The sex was incredible.
   _____ You identified with the hardships they’d suffered.
   _____ You felt that you could help them and change their lives.
2. Here are signs of this kind of relationship. Please check off any you’ve experienced:
   _____ Manipulation and mind games take up a lot of time and energy.
   _____ You’re held responsible (by others or yourself) for things you can’t control.
   _____ You see that you keep getting into high-...