Relapse Prevention Therapy

Your RBT therapist will work closely with you, using a series of strategies to help you build skills and confidence. The basic overview of a relapse prevention therapy program is as follows:

• Identify internal triggers. Unbidden thoughts about substance use that are positive or nostalgic or painful emotions that arise and make the idea of using sound good – internally generated triggers can be hard to navigate unless you know how to identify them in plenty of time.
• Identify external triggers. Figure out the places, friends, times of day, or activities with which you associate drug or alcohol use. Knowledge is power. You can’t always avoid these external triggers, but being aware of what and where they allow you to be prepared.
• Change your expectations and the language you use around substance use. This is called cognitive restructuring and means eliminating all words and ideas that are positively associated with the use and training yourself to reframe your thinking around abstinence from something dreaded or dull to something healthy and desired.
• Develop contingency plans in case of emergency. If you find you are in a situation that puts you in real danger of relapse, it’s good to have an exit strategy.
• Work on skills. For example, practicing communication strategies like saying no in a risky moment or planning an hour, day, and eventually, week and month that do not include substances or the most triggering activities you used to do while using.
• Reframe your thinking about relapse. It is not a failure but a learning experience. A relapse does not mean you will not be able to recover. It means you are in recovery already and have been offered a chance to work on your coping skills some more.

Relapse prevention therapy is all about building your confidence and self-esteem. You truly can face the challenges ahead.