Purpose 🎯

Strengthen protective relationships and identify support gaps.

Mapping the Support Circle ⭕️

Help the patient map people or services into categories:

• Emotional support
• Practical support
• Accountability
• Crisis support
• Professional care
• Recovery-oriented community supports

Identify which supports feel reliable, which may increase risk, and where additional support may be needed.

Strengthening the Circle 💡

Choose one step to strengthen the support system, such as contacting a supportive person, attending a group, discussing boundaries, or identifying a professional resource.

Telehealth / Whiteboard Version 💻

Draw concentric circles with the patient in the center. Place supports closer or farther away based on availability, safety, and trust.

Why This Works 🌱

Recovery is often strengthened by connection, accountability, and practical support. Mapping supports helps patients use resources more intentionally.

Clinical Pearl 🧠

Assess whether relationships are supportive, neutral, or high-risk. Not all familiar relationships support recovery.

Documentation Language 📝

Patient completed a recovery support circle activity to identify emotional, practical, accountability, crisis, and professional supports related to substance-use recovery.

Clinical Focus: Support Systems, Recovery Environment, Protective Factors