Our Programmes
Nudge
SUPPORTING THOSE STRUGGLING TO FIND CHANGE
Nudge is a four-session course for those who might be ambivalent about change. Based on Motivational Interviewing and ACT, Nudge engages those people who might still be using substances and it helps them to consider the function of their use and the process of change should they want to do so. This highly successful programme is being delivered in NHS services, third sector provision and in HMP Berwyn.
Nudge Course
The programme uses a range of metaphors and structured interventions to support ambivalent substance users to consider change.
Session 1: Lifestyle Balance
This session introduces the programme and outline expectations. Identify aspects of life that can support the person and identify steps necessary to resolve challenges (making change more probable and understanding context). We use the Stepping Stones Activity Handout and Pendulum Concept Handout
Session 2: Destructive Behaviours
This session helps participants understand how and why people engage in destructive behaviours. It helps participants consider their personal consequences, advantages of change and the disadvantages of not doing so.
The session uses flash card handouts & activity of Weighing-up the Two Sides.
Handout
Session 3: Finding What Matters
This session helps participants to identify sources of reinforcement in various aspects of life. It helps participants to begin to focus on the things in life that are important to them, rather than simply focusing on what they do not want to do. The session activity discusses making courageous choices.
Session 4: Making Small Changes
Help participants to begin to make small changes to their lives, develop basic (simple skills) for action and moving forwards and taking the next steps. It helps support participants to schedule events over mood dependent behaviour and to practice overcoming the initial blocks to action. Session activity includes scheduling activity, breathing, attention narrowing, and Soles of the Feet exercises.
Pathways to Recovery
ENGAGING THOSE WHO FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SUSTAIN CHANGE
Pathways to Recovery is a 12-session programme based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. It is designed to support those who are motivated for change but who find it extremely difficult to achieve sustained recovery.
Pathways to Recovery
Pathways to Recovery (P2R) is a twelve-session group work programme based on motivational theory and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), aimed at those who wish to change but struggle to achieve greater stability and resilience in their lives.
A significant focus of the materials is to develop a range of stabilisation skills and coping strategies. Each session has a focus, a pause to connect, a check in and a weekly challenge.
Session 1: Getting started
Supports participants to feel comfortable in the group. The focus is on what matters to us in life and setting goals.
Session 2: Moving forwards
Takes a look at destructive behaviours and the way we use them to manage difficult experiences. It examines the personal consequences of substance use. It weighs up advantages and disadvantages of use and considers how to tip the balance in favour of change.
Session 3: Building a life worth living
The session invites participants to take control of their recovery. It looks at the consequence of refusing life as it is.
Session 4: Gaining stability
This session looks at what we need to do to gain or regain stability. What coping strategies have worked for us in the past? Consider techniques that can help us to cope with difficult situations.
Session 5: Letting go
Consider our history and how we can get hooked up by it. Notice how our minds can be unhelpful at times. Consider moving towards difficult situations rather than avoiding them.
Session 6: Leaning in
What is the impact of cravings and urges? How they can be effectively managed? What useful distraction techniques do you have and consdier the alternative such as urge surfing. Consider psychological reactions to distress and how we can lean in.
Session 7: Doing something courageous
Consider why we struggle with choices in life. Taking a look at choice from a values perspective. Making a courageous choice.
Session 8: Getting connected
focus on the relationships we have in life and their positives and negatives consequences. Examine relationships from the perspective of recovery. Taking the temperature of our relationships. What makes a healthy relationship?
Session 9: Slowing down
The benefits of slowing down and feeling able to manage. Creating positive experiences. Making a commitment to those things that are important to you in life. Practicing SOBER breathing.
Session 10: Acting with kindness
Developing compassion for ourselves and others. Making active choices to help or not help others. Asking for help. Blocks to asking for help. Being kind to ourselves.
Session 11: Being ourselves
Asks the question what does being yourself mean to you. Examines what our reputation is built on and how we can rebuild it. Looks at what we can do to act with confidence.
Session 12: An ending and beginning
Reviews the progress we have made over the course of the programme and looks at how we can have a good ending and contemplating the next steps.
Moving On In My Recovery
ENGAGING THOSE IN SUSTAINED RECOVERY
MOIMR is a 12-session programme for those who have achieved abstinence. The programme was written by people in recovery and is co-facilitated by those in recovery. It is based on an evidence-based psychological therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. MOIMR has supported countless people into sustained recovery and is vastly credited with changing lives in incredible ways.
Moving On In My Recovery
A significant focus of the materials is to develop a range of skills and coping strategies built around the Vulnerability/Resiliency Model. Each session has a focus, a check in and a weekly challenge.
Programme Contents:
Session 1: The Next Steps in My Recovery
Introduces programme outline and expectations. It questions how does recovery look and feel. It assess progress to date and set goals.
Session 2: Anchor Points and Lifestyle Balance
Brings an understanding of a psychological system and what gives us stability. It begins to support gaining stability by building anchor points.
Session 3: Protecting Mental Wellbeing
Considers what can undermine wellbeing and how to actively protect it. It promotes protecting mental wellbeing with active steps.
Session 4: Coping with Anxiety
Understanding why we have anxiety, learning how to cope or seek advice and to develop and use skills to deal with it. It considers indicators of it and mindfulness and many other ways to cope with it.
Session 5: Managing Low Mood
Exploring the process of developing low mood and learning how to cope with it or seek advice for it. The session develops skills to deal with it such as activity scheduling as the principle method of management.
Session 6: Shutting the Door to Relapse
Consider how and why it occurs and how to take steps to lessen the individual risks. We consider our own high-risks and plan to minimise or avoid these.
Session 7: Peer Support
Understanding the value of peer support; consider how one gives and / or receives it. Making a commitment to doing something for others or being gracious and accepting help.
Session 8: Our Relationships
Understanding how relationships are important and what can make them toxic. Strengthening relationships and building positive networks.
Session 9: Being Me
Exploring why I am who I am and gaining flexibility around it. The session looks at the roles we all play and encourages a willingness to live towards our values.
Session 10: Dealing with All of Life’s Losses
This session helps us to understand the process of loss and use acceptance skills to get through the pain. It uses acceptance and normalisation to understand and cope with losses in life.
Session 11: Stigma and Me
Understand the cost of self-stigma and to take steps to be more self-compassionate. It helps us to develop a level of self-compassion to let go of self-stigma using mindfulness practice.
Session 12: More Steps in Recovery
This final session takes stock of, celebrates achievements and it assesses progress. We formally say goodbye to participants, review sessions, re-assess progress, set goals, and consider the next steps.
Our Programmes
We have three main group programmes but we also have a structured My Recovery Workbook and the free Moving On App
Nudge
Pathways to Recovery
Moving On In My Recovery
My Recovery Workbook is a 12 session Individual Workbook that combines all elements of the three group programmes described above.
The Moving On App: is a free downloadable programme that contains many of the core features of MOIMR