PCN-501: Relapse Prevention Plan

Read the Jed case study and create a relapse prevention plan for Jed. Keep in mind that you
would typically create a relapse prevention plan in collaboration with the client to ensure the
greatest chance for success; however, in this instance, you will create one for Jed based on what
you can glean from the case study.

Client Name: Jed Smith Age/Date of Birth: 38 years old

Date of Plan: 5/28/19 Next Date of Review:* 60

*This can be 30, 60, or 90 days.

Biopsychosocial Summary:
Provide a brief description of the client's presenting symptoms.
Jed is a 38 year old male with a family history of alcoholism. He is facing a second DUI
charge. He's experiencing marital problems due to his drinking and has distanced himself from
his family. He regularly goes out to drink with coworkers and considers his behavior normal.
He has had moments where he is unable to recall what happened during drinking and over the
past two years has had an increase in consumption levels. He is worried about having to
abstain from alcohol in preparation for his trial. He claims he has difficulty sleeping without
alcohol. He has tried AA meetings in the past but felt they were not helpful. He is willing to
attempt to go to AA meetings again.

Part 1: Harmful/Destructive Behaviors Chart

Complete the chart below by including a minimum of three behaviors as well as associated
rewards and consequences related to relapse and abstinence behaviors.

Harmful/destructive Possible rewards the client Possible costs for returning

behaviors that the client experiences when they to use and the associated
will need to avoid to prevent choose to use drugs/engage consequences
a relapse in relapse activities.

1. Drinking with buddies 1. Socializing/Relaxation 1. Family problems, Jail

time, Marital problems

2. Going to bar after soccer 2. Relaxation/Having fun 2. Family problems, Jail

games time, Marital problems

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 Harmful/destructive Possible rewards the client Possible costs for returning
behaviors that the client experiences when they to use and the associated
will need to avoid to prevent choose to use drugs/engage consequences
a relapse in relapse activities.

3. Drinking to sleep 3. Relaxation/Sleep 3. Family problems, Jail

time, Marital problems

Part 2: Current Risks of Relapse

In this section, you will identify the steps to reduce the risk of relapse. Describe how you might
assist Jed to identify high-risk situations, and specific triggers leading to relapse.
1. What steps has the client already taken to reduce the risk of relapse? What is the client’s
agreement to abstain from substance use/misuse?

Jed checked himself into a treatment facility and agreed to remain absent from alcohol for
the next two months until his court date. He has also agreed to go to AA meetings. As
long as Jed attends at least two meetings a week and one additional weekend meeting per
month and refrain from the use of alcohol, his counselor and sponsor have agreed to
testify about his recovery.

2. What are some high-risk situations that may trigger a relapse for the client? List three
specific situations that may lead to relapse.

2.1. He's had a stressful day at work and his co-workers invited him to a bar after
work.
2.2. At home having difficulty sleeping and maybe just having one beer to help take
the edge off.
2.3. Going out to have one beer with the soccer team after a win.

3. What are some examples of irrational thinking that may create the urge to return to
previous harmful behavior leading to relapse?

Jed believes that he needs alcohol in order to be able to sleep. he is also under the
impression that is culturally expected of him to drink due to his Irish heritage.

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Part 3: Relapse Response Plan
In this section, you will create a response plan to use when the client is faced with triggers and
urges to lapse into using behavior. Complete the chart below and include coping strategies,
client’s skills to redirect thoughts, and immediate actions to take before using substances.

List three people that the
client identifies for a
supportive network
List three new activities the
client can use as they shift
their focus away from the
destructive activities
involved in their addiction
List three actions or coping
responses the client will
utilize when a potentially
negative pattern of
behavior or high-risk
situation emerges.

1. Sponsor 1. Family activities 1. Contact sponsor

2. Counselor 2. Home projects 2. Talk to counselor

3. AA group 3. AA meetings 3. Contact crisis hotline

Part 4: Continued Health and Well-Being

1. Describe three community and support resources that are available to the client. Identify
how often and the amount of support group meetings the client will participate in (any
type of recovery support meeting) to improve health and sobriety. What resources might
Jed find for himself and how will we know if they are effective resources?
Jed's first and primary resource within a community will be AA meetings which are usually held
at churches and sometimes schools. He's agreed to attend at least two meetings a week and one
weekend meeting every month. Jed’s counselor is also available to him. He is meeting with a
counselor on a bi-weekly basis, but he is able to call the counselor whenever problems arise. Jed
will also have his sponsor that is within the community who he can also contact whenever he has
any immediate or pressing issues.
2. Identify at least two strategies the client can do to improve his family relationships and
describe how this is important to the success of the relapse prevention plan?
Jed should make an attempt to attend church with his wife and his daughters. This should help
him cement the bonds between them and give him an alternate venue to socialize (Hostetler &
Ryabinin 2014). Spirituality in Al Anon plays a large part in remaining sober (Ando et al., 2016).
Jed should also try to do other family activities such as family sports or even doing special
projects with his daughters in order to try to improve his relationship with his daughters and his
wife.
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 3. Describe how the ethnic and cultural aspects of the client may impact the relapse
prevention plan?
Jed is under the misconception that because he's Irish he's required to drink. If he continues to
follow this belief it will be a huge detriment to his ability to stay on the sober path.

4. Develop with the client an emergency contact sheet that the client may carry with them.
Create a contact card with the client to list the people and resources to have available to
use prior to a lapse or relapse to use substances. Go to Insert > Tables > and Select Table
Size to begin creating the Contact Card.

Sobriety Card

Name Number

Recovery 24 hour Crisis Line 1-888-249-7292

Rational Recovery 1-800-303-2876

Bob Roberson (sponsor) 210-656-1329

Billy Mondragon (therapist) 210-659-4586

Jed Smith

Client Signature Date

Bill J. Mondragon
Counselor Signature

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Andó, B., Álmos, P. Z., Németh, V. L., Kovács, I., Fehér-Csókás, A., Demeter, I., … Must, A. (2016).

Spirituality mediates state anxiety but not trait anxiety and depression in alcohol recovery. Journal

of Substance Use, 21(4), 344–348. https://doi-

org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.3109/14659891.2015.1021869

Hostetler, C. M., & Ryabinin, A. E. (2014). Social partners prevent alcohol relapse behavior in

prairie voles. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 39, 152–157. https://doi-

org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.10.006

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