My recovery journey #2

Goal Setting

Aim

  • Understand the FP’s current substance use

  • Establish substance use harms

  • Agree where the FP wants to be in relation to their substance use

  • Elicit commitment to change by setting a goal or goals

To do

  • Get an account of the recent substance use behaviour

  • Elicit concerns about the behaviour and its consequences (change talk)

  • Explore motivation for change and self-efficacy for achieving a concrete plan

  • Agree a change plan accompanied by optimism about the outcomes of change (commitment talk)

Why set goals?

  • People who have goals stay focused on the task

  • You need to be clear what it is that you feel motivated to change and what not to change

  • You need to check out of what you want to do is realistic and safe

❝ Commitment is what transforms promises into reality ❞ Abraham Lincoln

You will be able to complete this task digitally and download a PDF of your responses at the end of these notes - if you want to respond as you go then that is fine too

Using worksheets

We encourage you to use worksheets - they are not an end in themselves but they do...

  • provide a framework for discussing a topic

  • facilitate monitoring and evidence of progress when repeated several times

  • bring important issues to the attention of service users

Here are examples of two commonly used tools: the drinking and drug use diary and the decision matrix...

Example of a drink and drug use diary

The aim of this worksheet is to i) identify what drink or drugs you are taking ii) to see if there is a pattern that might suggest ways to change. Fill out a diary for the previous week.

  1. Reflect on the different substances being used and where they are used - is there some indication as to the triggers for drinking or drug taking.

  2. If drinking is a significant part of your week use an alcohol unit calculator to sum the units.

  3. Use a blank diary sheet to set goals for the coming week and monitor progress.

  4. Repeat the exercise from time to time and keep the diaries as a record of progress.

Example of a decision matrix worksheet

The aim of this worksheet is to increase or consolidate motivation for change. It is a useful tool for people who are still pre-contemplators but can also be useful if someone is making changes but gets stuck and needs to be reminded of why they want to change. The idea is to draw attention to the discrepancy between dislikes and what the FP gets out of drinking or drug taking. The practitioner needs to be sure to highlight the discrepancy.

  1. Complete each of the four boxes.

  2. Reflect on your responses particularly regarding dislikes.

  3. What do you make of what you have written.

  4. Look at the balance in favour of stopping drinking or taking drugs. It is a good idea to test out abstinence in the first instance but the matrix can equally be applied to moderation.

To consolidate your decision you might consider…

“What is going to be better from stopping or cutting down your drinking/drug taking?”

"Who in the network can help you to stay off drink/drugs?"

"In what ways can they help?"

"What are going to be risky situations for you?"

Now you have worked through all the introduction to goal setting you can make your own plan…