Substance Use Patterns & Loss of Control
- Reduce the frequency, intensity, or amount of substance use in accordance with the patient’s identified treatment goals.
- Increase ability to control substance use and follow through with intended changes.
- Increase insight into the emotional, psychological, relational, and environmental factors contributing to substance use.
- Develop healthier responses to underlying needs and distress that reduce reliance on substances as a primary coping strategy.
Consequences & Functional Impairment
- Reduce the impact of substance use on relationships, responsibilities, routines, and overall functioning.
- Improve stability in areas of life negatively affected by substance use or related emotional and behavioral concerns.
- Increase ability to fulfill personal, family, academic, occupational, and other responsibilities while addressing barriers to functioning.
- Increase engagement in meaningful and value-consistent activities that support recovery and overall well-being.
Cravings, Triggers & Emotional Coping
- Increase ability to recognize and manage cravings and urges without automatically engaging in substance use.
- Identify and address emotional, psychological, relational, and environmental triggers contributing to substance use.
- Develop healthier strategies for managing trauma-related distress, anxiety, depression, anger, loneliness, stress, and other difficult experiences.
- Improve emotional regulation and distress tolerance to reduce reliance on substances for emotional relief.
Motivation, Ambivalence & Readiness
- Increase motivation and readiness to make meaningful changes related to substance use and overall well-being.
- Explore and resolve ambivalence regarding substance use while identifying meaningful reasons for change.
- Strengthen confidence in the patient’s ability to reduce or discontinue substance use and sustain behavioral change.
- Increase alignment between recovery efforts, personal values, relationships, and the patient’s desired quality of life.
Recovery & Relapse Vulnerability
- Maintain progress toward reduced or discontinued substance use while addressing factors that may increase vulnerability to recurrence.
- Increase ability to recognize and respond to emotional, relational, and environmental warning signs associated with increased risk.
- Develop sustainable coping strategies, routines, and support systems that address both recovery and underlying psychological needs.
- Strengthen ability to maintain progress during periods of stress, trauma-related activation, interpersonal conflict, or emotional distress.
Co-Occurring Symptoms & Safety
- Reduce the impact of co-occurring mental health symptoms on substance use, recovery, and daily functioning.
- Increase ability to manage trauma-related symptoms, anxiety, depression, mood concerns, sleep difficulties, and other psychological distress without relying primarily on substances.
- Increase psychological and behavioral stability while reducing substance-related safety risks.
- Strengthen engagement with appropriate behavioral health, medical, psychiatric, and substance-use supports to address the patient’s needs comprehensively.