What is the theory behind this Addiction Therapy Worksheet for Adults?

Addiction therapy includes interventions and treatments that help individuals overcome their addiction to harmful substances. They may focus on identifying triggers and teaching coping strategies to avoid cravings and urges. A critical part of addiction therapy is lapse and relapse prevention which ensures individuals do not fall back on their old addictive habits. Some therapies focus on addressing the underlying issues or trauma that has led to and maintaining one’s addiction.  

How will the worksheet help?

The worksheet will help people with addictions to compile a list of triggers that they have noticed lead to their use of substances. This is vital information for the therapist to incorporate into interventions that can help in knowing when to utilise coping strategies to prevent relapse. It will also help clients realise their weaknesses and what actions they can take to prepare for the future. 

How to use the worksheet?

Instruct the client to reflect on all the situations in the past that have enhanced their cravings and urges to use their choice of substance. Ask them to write about the particular aspect of that situation that was the most triggering. Lastly, brainstorm how the situation can be avoided or overcome in the future. 

Addiction Therapy Worksheet for Adults

Recall past events to list down what you have noticed about the situations that trigger your cravings or addiction to use your choice of substance. Think of ways you can avoid or cope with that situation in the future. 

Describe the situation where you had a very strong craving and you either controlled it or indulged in it	Which aspect of this situation was the most triggering?people, place, time, certain object or thing, certain smell or sounds, your own thoughts or beliefs about the situation or any other	Rate the intensity of your craving on a scale of 1 – 10	What can you do next time you are faced with the same situation?

Reference

Department of Health, Philippines. (2020) Patient’s Workbook for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Sessions: Intensive Treatment and Rehabilitation Program for Residential Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers for Drug Dependents (INTREPRET) (1st Edition). 

You can download this worksheet here.