exercise: roadblocks to recovery

Psychoeducational GroupsDavid Barry

Roadblocks to Recovery

Description:

There are many roadblocks to recovery. This psychoeducational group session focuses on some of the roadblocks individuals may face when returning to the community and how they can successfully continue their recovery process.

Goals At then end of this exercise participants will be able to:

1] Describe many of the obstacles [roadblocks] to recovery and how those roadblocks can worsen their psychological well being.

2] Review options they have for overcoming many of the roadblocks to recovery.

3] Discuss how they have choices and how to make good choices that promote recovery.

Materials Needed: Masking tape Paper plates with roadblocks identified Blindfold Roles to recovery role-play sheets

Note for Facilitator: In advance of this session have tape placed on floor [Use one of the diagrams included in

this exercise to help place the tape.]. Overall route should be about 30-40 feet with at least 4 directional changes. Do not have plates placed on floor at the beginning of the session.

Have a set of paper plates with the roadblocks written out available. Also have some blank plates for participants to identify other roadblocks. Only put plates down once the Lead Participant is blindfolded. See Sample roadblock Sheet attached.

Structure [Basic Roadblocks] 1:

1. Briefly discuss how the recovery process is a challenge and individuals may face various roadblocks to recovery and their successful return to the community.

2. Ask participants to identify what they think will be some roadblocks they might encounter when they return to their communities.

3. Briefly describe how the exercise will work. [This overall process can be repeated for several participants, but only one at a time.]

A. The Lead Participant will play the part of the person returning to the community. B. A second participant, The Guide, will play the Primary Support Person who will

verbally guide the blindfolded, Lead Participant, through the Recovery Road. C. Other participants will have various roles they can play during the exercise. Those

roles are described on the Road to Recovery Role-Play Sheets.

Starting Line

You are

bored and

lonely

You want to quit

the program

The meds

make youtired

Old friend offers you

drugs


D. The lead participant will blindfolded and required to go along the path outlined on the floor, marked by tape. [Refer to the diagram on the Roadblocks to Recovery Sheet attached]. The Guide will give verbal directions to help the Lead walk the Road to Recovery.

E. Other members of the group will be assigned roles identified on the Roadblocks to Recovery Role-play Sheet. They will try to interrupt the Lead Participant as he follows the Road to Recovery.

F. Only one member will be assigned as the Lead and one as the Guide. The other roles can be given to more than one participant.

G. If the Lead Participants steps on a Roadblock or off the line he can only move forward if he can give a description of what could be done to overcome the roadblock.

Variations: Roadblocks Dynamic

In this version only the starting tape is put on the floor in advance of the exercise.

As the participant goes from one Roadblock to another a new path is outlined with the tape. The new plate is put down following the theme of the last roadblock.

For example one path might look like the figure on the left.

Following this theme participants get aperspective on how a poor decision canhave several negative consequences. They can also discuss how to correct the path and continue on Recovery.

Prompt Questions for Activity

Before the actual activity starts list out on chart or board three questions you want participants to think about during this activity.

1] What are some of the roadblocks to recovery you think you might face?


2] How did the Lead Participant and Guide overcome some of their roadblocks?

3] What are the choices you can make to promote recovery?


Roadblocks to Recovery Role-Play Sheet

LEAD PARTICIPANT:You will be lead blindfolded along the road to recovery. Your Guide person will help you navigate the Road. If you step on the line or on one of the Roadblocks you must describe how you could overcome the roadblock.

PRIMARY SUPPORT PERSON.- GuideYou will help the lead participant navigate the Road to Recovery by giving calm, concise and accurate directions. For example, “move your left foot about 12 inches ahead.” All instruction is done verbally you cannot physically direct the participant.

“JOHNNY TOO BAD” OR “THE BAD ANGEL”You do not want the person to succeed and continuously make comments designed to cause him to fail in his recovery. For example, “You not need to see that stupid therapist. How can he help you?” Your comments must be given at a low murmur volume not to override the Primary Support Persons comments.

“DUDLEY DO RIGHT” OR “THE GOOD ANGEL”You want the person to succeed, despite how he is. Everything you do is better, but if he does what you tell him to do he might be all right. For example you might say, “Well you will probably eventually fail, but right now you need to do…. “ Your comments must be given at a low murmur volume not to override the Primary Support Persons comments

I AM HERE FOR YOU AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT NEED ANYTHINGYou want the lead participant to succeed and have some ideas that will could be helpful but are afraid of being dragged into the process. As long as nothing directly is asked of you, you are willing to help. You might say things like, “Try going to the clinic if you are feeling bad.” Or,” I know the medications taste horrible but helps keep you calm.” Your comments must be given at a low murmur volume not to override the Primary Support Persons comments

YOUR BEST, WORST FRIENDYou are the constant state of denial. You do not need mental health services, drugs are not a problem and what the parole officer does not know won’t hurt you. You might say things like,“This is too much pressure, lets go get some smoke.” Or, “I can snatch that steak and get it under my shirt before anyone blinks.” Your comments must be given at a low murmur volume not to override the Primary Support Persons comments.


Sample Roadblocks for Basic

Everyone wants to know what has happened to you.

You feel you are being identified by a mental illness label.

Your medication makes you too sleepy.

It is hard to find a place to live.

Your benefits will not start for two more weeks.

You overall stress level is through the roof.

You met some old friends and they want to get high.

You are starting to hear voices telling you bad things.

An old friend says he can give you some money to be a look-out

You have too much time on your hands

Your family does not want to talk with you

You begin thinking about harming yourself

You have not had a date in 1 month

You lied on a job application and now people at work are asking you more questions

You are lonely and need to meet some new people

You owe someone money and they say it is time to pay-up.

The police begin to question you about a crime in the neighborhood, even though you had nothing to do with it.

Things do not seem like they will ever get better

You are cold and hungry and it is late at night with nowhere to go.

Everyday is a trial

Your only close support has moved out of town

Your ex-girlfriend says she never wants to see you again

You find out an old enemy is now looking for you


Review of Exercise

After each set of participants completes the exercise ask them how they felt the exercise went. What did they think were some of the successes and what do they think they could have done better.

When a number of the participants have attempted the exercise and it is time to wrap up review the prompt questions.

1] Describe many of the obstacles [roadblocks] to recovery and how those roadblocks can worsen their psychological well being.

2] Review options they have for overcoming many of the roadblocks to recovery.

3] Discuss how they have choices and how to make good choices that promote recovery

exercise: roadblocks to recovery

Health & Medicine