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Relapse Prevention Counseling and Activities

Overcoming an addiction is a difficult challenge, and, when it is finally achieved, it should be looked on as a major victory. However, the struggle doesn't stop there. Once an addict stops indulging in the problem substance or activity, he must actively work to maintain his abstinence. Counseling and other healthy activities can teach him new coping skills and help him prevent a relapse.

  1. Counseling

    • A certified addictions counselor or a therapist who is experienced in helping clients overcome addictions can help prevent a relapse. The client must come to counseling sessions on a regular basis, such as once a week. Sessions might need to be more frequent at the beginning of the recovery period because that is the client's most vulnerable time. The counselor will help him recognize danger signs of potential relapse and guide him through creating a plan to get through the rough times.

    Support Groups

    • There are support groups for virtually any type of addiction, from drugs and alcohol to spending and pornography. Many of these groups are modeled after the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. They prevent relapse through giving a recovering addict a supportive environment and resources to help her maintain abstinence. Many also use sponsors to provide one-on-one support. A sponsor is a person who can be contacted immediately if a recovering addict feels that she may be slipping.

    Friends

    • Developing and maintaining a new group of friends can help an addict prevent a relapse. Often, his old friends are part of the problem, encouraging and enabling his addiction. Those friends may be addicts themselves. To avoid relapsing, he must build friendship with emotionally healthy people who will support him in his abstinence. These new friends may be found in support groups and also may occur spontaneously.

    Family Members

    • Family members often enable an addict, protecting her from the consequences of her actions and trying to ignore or smooth over the problem. Once the addict has gotten treatment, her family must take an active role in supporting her abstinence and holding her accountable for her actions. If they have difficulty doing this because they have fallen into unhealthy patterns, family therapy can help.

    Self-Care

    • Stressors can push a recovering addict into a relapse. Self-care is important because, if the addict can learn how to deal with anxiety and stress in a healthy way, he will neutralize its ability to relapse. Common stress beaters include exercise, meditation, journaling, using positive affirmations in the morning or at night and getting enough rest.

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