Breaking Chains, Building Bridges: 12-Step-Inspired Trauma Recovery for Substance Users and Their Families

In this workshop, we will teach you our 3-phase approach to treating the trauma of substance use disorder for both the user and the family system surrounding them. It's easy to see that living with or loving a substance-use-disordered person can be traumatic, but we don't always think of the person using the substance as also being traumatized by their substance use.

Many people use substances, but for some, the substance hijacks their lives and becomes the primary decision-maker. They experience many losses, including family, friends, self-respect, their view of themselves, and even their health or life.

The 12STR® model treats the substance as a source of trauma for the user and the SU-Disordered individual as a source for the family.

Objectives:

1. Participants will learn tools to help clients explore the connection between substance use and psychological symptoms from past traumatic experiences.

2. Participants will review how to use two educational interventions and assessment tools to introduce clients to trauma-specific treatment, including Motivational Interviewing.

3. Participants will role-play the structure of 12STR® Phase 2 with scripted characters focused on substance use and family as the source.

Basic Schedule

Day 1

8:45-10:15 AM: Introductions. Levels of Development in Trauma Care. Intro to 3-phases of 12STR® theory and practice. Overview of the ACE study and research on trauma. Statistics on SUD,  definitions of SUD. Review 12STR Phases/stages.

10:15-10:30 AM: Break

10:30-12:00: The Trauma Survivor BluePrint. The SUD Family System and Counselor Goals Phase 1 (1.5)

12:00-12:30 PM: LUNCH

12:30-2:00 PM: Treating SUD as a source of trauma vs. a symptom; Using the DSM 5tr to diagnose SUD; Patient goals of Phase 1: the four stages for clients and practicing emotional safety. (1.5)

2:00 -2:15 PM: BREAK

2:15-3:45 PM: Integrating MI with the 12STR System Phase 1; Finish Counselor goals of Phase 1. End-of-Day questions.  (1.5)

Day 2

8:45-10:15 AM: Review of Phase 1-Questions and discussions. Assessing for Phase 2 when SUD is the source of trauma; Rules for writing, reading, and processing. Focus on empathy skills. (1.5)

10:15-10:30 AM: BREAK

10:30-12:00 PM: Role-play introduction. Phase 2 Stage 1/ Using 12STR® when substance use disorder is the source of trauma. Or when a family/loved one with a SUD is the source of trauma. Follow 2-3 characters through all 6 stages. (1.5)

12:00-12:30 PM: LUNCH

12:30-2:00 PM: Role-play the SUD client in a group and family member in a separate group. (1.5)

2:00 -2:15 PM: BREAK

2:15-3:45 PM: Role Play continued, including optional couple’s counseling intervention. What can go wrong? End-of-day questions. (1.5)

Day 3

8:45-10:15 AM: Questions. Review and Finish Phase 2-Stage 1 role plays (1.5)

10:15-10:30 AM: BREAK

10:30-12:00 PM: Introduction to Stages 2 and 3-modifications for SUD. Roleplay continues. Introduction to Stage 4, finding the "Edge" and Stage 5: The Concept of Forgiveness with SUD and family forgiveness (1.5)

12:00-12:30 PM: LUNCH

12:30-2:00 PM: (1.5) Stage 6: Personal or Spiritual Marker (Final role play with everyone participating in one of two groups).

2:00 -2:15 PM: BREAK

2:15-3:45 PM: Phase 3- Overview and Summary. Applications/Plans for Implementation/Questions and Summary (1.5)