Lesson Plans

Identifying a challenge… 

How do we teach psychoeducational content to treatment participants?

Treatment providers would benefit from consistent lesson formats that focus on teaching the topics related to understanding, managing, and living with co-occurring psychiatric and substance disorders. Ideally, that would be a tailor-made psychoeducational treatment program that can be adapted to meet the needs of any facility or treatment agency. Yet, where is that located?

The search for psychoeducational content typically results in three formats:

  1. Books written to the professional: the professional then needs to transfer the learning and education into a curriculum format.
  2. Brief workbooks with processing and group discussion questions: the professional then needs to find the comprehensive psychoeducation to fully learn the information on specific topics such as Self-Esteem, Nutrition, Stress Management, and even Neurochemistry, etc.
  3. Curriculum content without interactive group exercises: the professional needs to develop the skill building exercises to help the person implement the education presented in group into an actual learning experience.

THE BASICS, Second Edition does have divisions within each of the Eight Subjects – yet there is still a great deal of material in two volumes that span 1,200 pages. The curriculum also has worksheets and handouts to expand the learning experience.

Yet, it still posed a challenge because facilities and agencies wanted to teach a specific topic at a time while also maintaining a consistent group structure. They wanted more assistance in exploring particular topics – like stress management or anger. In other words, they asked for ideas of what to say or ask to help each person turn the group or 1X1 into an individual learning experience – What helps you manage your stress? How do you manage your anger? What did we talk about today that you might try in your recovery program?

Offering a lesson plan solution…

  1. Divide the entire curriculum into 103 single group topics of approximately 10-15 pages of THE BASICS, Second Edition each.
  2. Design lesson plans to transfer the psychoeducation into a clear format providing consistency within each group setting.
  3. Include suggested instructions to group facilitators in each lesson format and suggested timeframes for each section.
  4. Strive to enhance the learning opportunity for each group participant by including suggestions for processing questions and skill building exercises.
  5. Structure the skill building discussions and exercises to help each person individualize the psychoeducation in the lesson plan and/or the skill to be practiced.

Refer to the Developing a Psychoeducational Program and the Lesson Plan Division & Treatment Program Examples. As you develop your program – or choose from one of the already designed ones available on this website – click on the individual Lesson Plans below by clicking the Download Button.

 

INTEGRATED TREATMENT RECOVERY & APPROACH (6 Lessons)
Overview of Psychiatric Disorders & The Link Between Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders: (pages: Subject 2-1 – 2-6)
Biological-Psychological-Social-Cultural-Environmental-Spiritual Approach and Recovery (pages: Subject 1-1 – 1-10)
Acceptance, Patience, Attitude, and Gratitude (pages: Subject 6-1 – 6-8)
Getting the Most Out of the Group Process: Benefits, Skills, Values, & Techniques (pages: Subject 1-42 – 1-46; 1-58 – 1-62)
Focusing on the Similarities and Not the Differences & Cultural Diversity (pages: Subject 1-11 – 1-14; 1-23 – 1-28)
The Process of Recovery and Treatment Works! (pages: Subject 6-8 – 6-14; 6-16 – 6-17)
SYMPTOM IDENTIFICATION & SYMPTOM MANGEMENT OF PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS (11 Lessons)
Depression & Major Depression Co-Occurring With Substance Disorders (pages: 2-9 – 2-11; Appendix III 1-1 – II-5)
Diagnosing Psychiatric Disorders and The Mood Disorder Dysthymia (pages: Subject 2-4 – 2-8; 2-11 – 2-14)
Depression in Women, Men, and Seniors & Treatment for Major Depression and Dysthymia (pages: Appendix II-5 – II-9; Subject 2-12 – 2-14)
The Basics About Bipolar Disorder, Mania & Hypomania (pages: Appendix II-12 – II-13; Subject 2-14 – 2-19)
The Basics About Anxiety Disorders & Types, Symptoms, and Treatment (pages: Subject 2-21 – 2-23)
Anxiety & Anxiety Disorders Co-Occurring With Substance Disorders (pages: Appendix II-20 – II-23; 2-21 –2-24)
The Basics About Thought Disorders and Schizophrenia (pages: Appendix II-37 – II-45; Subject 2-34 – 2-40)
Medications: Planned Effects, Coping With Side Effects, Differences Between Meds & Drugs, and Docs & Dealers (pages: Subject 4-50 – 4-60)
Safe Medication Practices & The “Twelve Step Program and Medications” (pages: Subject 4-59 – 4-66; 4-68 – 69)
Personality Temperament, Traits, Problems, and Disorders (pages: Subject 2-40 – 2-56)
Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa & Binge-Eating: (pages: Appendix II-58 – II-62; Subject 2-56 – 2-62)
Symptoms Identification & Symptom Management of Substance Use Disorders (9 Lessons)
Diagnosing Substance Dependence & Why People Use Alcohol and Other Drugs (pages: 3-2; 3-12 – 3-14;Appendix III 8-10; III 12-14; Subject 3-5)
The Differences Between Substance Use, Abuse, and Dependence (pages: Subject 3-1 – 3-8; 3-10 – 3-14)
Identifying the Specific Characteristics of Substance Dependence, Part I (pages: Appendix III-20 – III-32)
Identifying The Specific Characteristics of Chemical Dependency, Part II (pages: Appendix III-33 – III-44)
Activity Addictions Of Gambling, Sex, Love, Food, Spending, or Religious Addiction (pages: Subject 3-35 – 3-38; Appendix III-58 – III-65)
Acute Withdrawal Symptoms of Alcohol and Other Drugs (pages: Appendix IB-1 -IB-10)
Cravings: Defining, Identifying, and Managing Urges to Use Alcohol & Other Drugs (pages: Subject 6-26 – 6-31)
Discovering The Brain Chemistry of Cravings, Managing Cravings, & Developing Refusal Skills (pages: Subject 4-31 – 4-35)
Developing Skills to Refuse Alcohol and Other Drugs & Controlling Cravings Before They Control You (pages: Subject 6-32 – 6-33)
Neurochemistry of Substance Dependence (4 Lessons)
Addiction Is a Brain Disorder & Disruption of the Neurotransmission (pages: Subject 3-28 – 3-34; 3-38 – 3-41)
Addiction Vulnerability Is Primarily Inherited – Exactly What Is Inherited? (pages: Subject 3-41 – 3-45; Appendix III-67 – III-84)
Identifying Personal Genetic Vulnerability and Risk of Substance Dependence (pages: Subject 3- 15 – 3-17; Appendix III-14 – III-19)
Alcoholism & Addiction: Genetics, Brain Chemistry (Working & Not Working), and Brain Healing (pages: Subject 3-16 – 3-17; 3-30 – 3-32; 3-39; 3-41 – 3-42; 3-75)
Moving Toward Change (8 Lessons)
Reducing Harmful Use & Developing a Harm Reduction Plan (pages: Subject 3-65 – 3-66; Appendix III-93 –III-98)
The Definitions and Purposes of Denial & Defenses (pages: Subject 3-59 – 3-60; Appendix III-89 –III-90)
De-Nial Is Not a River in Egypt & The Many Faces of Denial (pages: Subject 3-59 – 3-60; Appendix III-91 –III-92)
Denial & Defenses, and Personal Awareness Through The Discovery Worksheet (pages: Subject 3-59 – 3-62; Appendix III-89 – III-92)
Stages of Change, Motivation, Choices, & Working Through Ambivalence (pages: Subject 1-28 – 1-37)
Recognizing Ambivalence & Weighing the Pros and Cons of Change (pages: Subject 3-62 – 3-65)
Moving Toward Abstinence & Making The Decision to Change (pages: Subject 3-67 – 3-74; Appendix III-101 – III-102)
Staying Abstinent No Matter What & Tools for Abstinence (pages: Subject 6-15 – 6-16; 6-17 – 6-25)
Progression of Untreated Disorders (8 Lessons)
Co-Occurring Disorders and Progressive Stages of The Addictive Process (pages: Subject 3-45 – 3-54; 3-55 – 3-56)
Effects of Alcohol, Stimulants, and Cannabis Sativa & Other Drugs on Mental Health (pages: Appendix IA-1 – IA-2; IA-6 – IA-8; IA-11 – IA-14)
Effects of Alcohol, Stimulants, and Cannabis Sativa & Other Drugs on Physical Health (pages: Appendix IVA-1 – IVA-2; IVA-8 – IVA-12; IVA-21 – IVA-22)
Effects of Nicotine/Smoking on Mental & Physical Health, Pregnancy & Infants, and Withdrawal & Quitting Smoking (pages: Appendix IA-9; IB-17 – IB-19; IVA-13 – IVA-18; IVB-16; Subject 8-72 – 8-73)
Alcohol: Effects on Mental Health, Physical Health, FAS & FAE and Physical Health Personal Risk Assessment (pages: Appendix IA-1– IA-2; Appendix IVB-1; IVB-4;IVB-8; IVB-10)
FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) & FAE (Fetal Alcohol Effect) Symptoms, Treatment, and Self-Forgiveness (pages: Appendix IVB-1– IVB-12)
Identifying Areas of Problems or Consequences Related to Substance Abuse and Dependence (pages: Appendix III-87 – III-88)
Personal Assessment of the Consequences and Problems of Substance Abuse and Dependence (pages: Subject 3-57 – 3-59)
Physical Recovery & Health (6 Lessons)
The Immune System, Stress, STDs, and Reducing Risk (pages: Subject 4-8 – 4-15; 4-36 – 4-39)
Contributors To An Unhealthy Immune System and Strengthening the Immune System (pages: Subject 4-23 – 4-31)
Hepatitis and Tuberculosis: Definitions, Transmission, Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment (pages: Subject 4-15 – 4-22)
STDs, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis A, and B, and C, & Reducing Risk
Depression, Anxiety, & Isolation and The Immune System, Stress, & Physical Health (pages: Subject 4-41 – 4-49)
Ongoing Physical Recovery & Post Acute Withdrawal (pages: Subject 7-1 – 7-8)
Stress Identification & Management (2 Lessons)
Stress, Stressors, and Stress Management (pages: Subject 5-25 – 5-32)
Stress and Co-Occurring Disorders & Daily Stress Management Skills (pages: Subject 4-1 – 4-8)
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Self-Care (4 Lessons)
Self-Care in Areas of Sleep, Medical & Dental Care, and Balanced Living (pages: Subject 6-44 – 6-50)
Nutrition and Dual Disorders & Developing Healthy Nutritional Habits (pages: Subject 6-33 – 6-34; 6-36 – 6-38)
The Role of Blood Sugar in Recovery & Managing Blood Sugar pages: Subject 6-35 – 6-37; 6-38; 6-44)
Healing Body & Brain By Eating Right and Developing Nutritional Planning & Shopping Skills (pages: Subject 6-38 – 6-44)
Thinking/Cognitive Recovery & Health (4 Lessons)
Rational-Emotive Therapy (RET) (pages: Subject 5-66 – 5-74)
Identifying Negative Thinking Patterns & Changing Negative Thinking to Positive Thinking (pages: Subject 2-63 – 2-66; 2-67 – 2-72)
Identifying Patterns of Thoughts, Challenging Non-Helpful Automatic Thoughts, & Developing Reframing Skills (pages: Subject 7-15 – 7-19; 7-20 – 7-23)
Changing Negative Thought Patterns and Habits to Positive Self-Talk Messages (pages: Subject 2-66 – 2-67)
Emotional Recovery & Health (9 Lessons)
Neurochemistry of Toxicity and Emotions as the Brain Wakes Up (pages: Subject 5-8 – 5-13)
Working Through and Coping with Neurological Processes (pages: Subject 5-15 – 5-24)
Emotions or Feelings and Coping With Stress & Uncomfortable Emotions (pages: Subject 5-1 – 5-7)
Co-Occurring Disorders & Sadness and Depression (pages: Subject 5-43 – 5-48)
Understanding and Coping With Guilt, Shame, Anxiety, Worry, Fear & Boredom (pages: Subject 5-57 – 5-66)
Understanding Grief and Loss & Developing a Plan to Cope With Grieving (pages: Subject 5-48 – 5-56)
On-Going Emotional Recovery, Hidden Fear, Outward Defenses, and Ways to Express Emotions (pages: Subject 7-8 – 7-15)
Anger, Expressing Anger & The Mis–Management of Anger (pages: Subject 5-32 – 5-37)
Understanding Resentments & Anger and Anger Management Techniques (pages: Subject 5-38 – 5-42)
Family and Social Recovery & Health (3 Lessons)
Gender, Age, Sexual Orientation, Culture & Family and Substance Disorders (pages: 3-21 – 3-28)
The Basics About Family Systems & Developing Relationships With Family (pages: Subject 7-56 – 7-62)
The Family in Recovery & Developing Relationships With Others (pages: Subject 7-63 – 7-70)
Self-Help & Twelve Step Groups (2 Lessons)
Self-Help Groups and The Twelve Step Program (pages: Subject 6-62 – 6-73)
Getting a Home Group – Getting a Sponsor – Working the Twelve Steps (pages: Subject 6-73 – 6-81)
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Personal Development & Recovery (6 Lessons)
Fear in Early Recovery & Developing Self-Awareness With the Johari Window (pages: Subject 1-38 – 1-39; 1-40 – 1-43; 1-46 – 1-48; 1-65 – 1-66)
Self-Esteem & Internal, External, Physical and Emotional Boundaries (pages: Subject 7-50 – 7-56)
Developing A Relationship With Yourself Through Building Self-Esteem (pages: Subject 7-44 – 7-49)
Identifying and Working Through Character Defects (pages: Subject 7-24 – 7-29)
Codependency Defined & Patterns, Characteristics, and Recovery (pages: Subject 7-37 – 7-43)
Procrastination, Perfectionism, and Identifying & Changing Self-Defeating Behaviors (pages: Subject 7-29 – 7-36)
Life Skills (7 Lessons)
Breaking Isolation, Benefits of Laughter & Humor, and Learning to Have Fun (pages: Subject 4-46 – 4-49; 6-51 – 6-55)
Live a Positive & Active Life and Building a Support Network (pages: Subject 6-50 – 6-62)
Relaxation Skills, Building Structure, & Working The Twelve Steps To Reduce Stress And Prevent Relapse (pages: Subject 8-49 – 8-52; 8-57 – 8-60)
Coping With Crisis, Suicide Prevention, and Spiritual Practice (pages: Subject 8-5 – 8-7; 8-55 – 8-57)
Passive, Aggressive, Passive-Aggressive, and Assertive Communication Styles (pages: Subject 1-49 – 1- 54; 1-56)
Assertive Communication Style & How To Be Assertive (pages: Subject 1-54 – 1-58)
Vocation & Employment, Problem Solving, and Money & Time Management (pages: Subject 8-67 – 8-72)
Spiritual Recovery (2 Lessons)
Elements of Spiritual Health and Personal Circle of Recovery (pages: Subject 7-77 – 7-84)
Developing a Relationship With Your Spiritual or Higher Self (pages: Subject 7-70 – 7-77)
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Preventing Relapse in Substance Use Disorders & Recurrence of Symptoms in Psychiatric Disorders (9 Lessons)
The Basics About Relapse or Recurrence of Symptoms of Co-Occurring Disorders (pages: Subject 8-7 – 8-15)
Preventing a Recurrence of Symptoms & Identifying Substance Dependence Relapse Warning Signs (pages: Subject 8-16 – 8-22)
Relapse Prevention Skills for Substance Dependence Disorders (pages: Subject 8-44 – 8-49; 8-53 – 8-55; 8-60 – 8-62)
Identifying Psychiatric Relapse Triggers and Warning Signs of a Recurrence of Symptoms (pages: Subject 8-22 – 8-26)
Coping With Relapse & Turning a Relapse Into a Learning Experience (pages: Subject 8-38 – 8-44)
Culture, Family, Gender, and Relapse & Personal Identification of External Relapse Triggers (pages: Subject 8-26 – 8-31)
Specific Relapse Triggers and Solutions & Co-Occurring Disorders and Stress (pages: Subject 8-31 – 8-38)
Personal Identification of Relapse and Crisis Internal Triggers (pages: Subject 8-44 – 8-49)
Developing “My Personal Relapse and Crisis Prevention Plan” (Subject 8)
Maintaining Recovery (3 Lessons)
Living the Program, Maintaining the Program, Setting Goals, & Maintaining Conflict (pages: Subject 8-64 – 8-67)
The Crisis Making Process & The Crisis Coping Process (pages: Subject 8-1 – 8-5)
Addressing Violence – Past (Childhood Trauma) and Present (Domestic Violence) (Pages: Subject 8-73 – 8-80; 8-82 – 8-84)
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