Taking the Escalator Articles

When Coping Goes Off Course Sometimes it starts off harmless. A few drinks after work to unwind. A hit, a pill, or a line here and there to "take the edge off." A little something to push away the anxiety, the sadness, the thoughts we can’t shake even if just for a little while. It can just feel like escape from the grind and a relief from the stress and boredom of it all. It’s fun, and at first, it feels like it works , perhaps even looking like the answer we were always loo

Our Most Popular Video Just Got Even Better Dr. Erin Zerbo’s powerful interview on addiction, recovery, and compassion has earned its place as the most-watched video we've ever released—and for good reason. Dr. Zerbo brings extraordinary insight, clarity, and heart to a complex topic, and her perspective continues to resonate with professionals and clients alike. Now, we're making this resource even more impactful with a brand-new, thoughtfully designed worksheet to guide dis

Seasons bring change: some welcome, some challenging. This worksheet helps explore how specific seasons may affect mental health, substance use, or overall well-being. Whether it's Winter's isolation, Summer's unstructured time, or the pressure and family drama that can be associated with the Holiday Season, every season has unique triggers, opportunities, stressors, and struggles. This exercise is designed to help identify seasonal patterns and prepare with proactive coping

These exclusive live Zoom seminars are part of the Taking the Escalator  Premium Membership—designed to support your clinical growth with...

Understanding family dynamics is essential for effective clinical work, especially when addressing underlying patterns that contribute to mental health and substance use challenges. Two new worksheets are now available to help therapists and counselors explore these important themes with clients in an accessible, engaging way. These resources are ideal for group therapy, individual sessions, or supervision discussions. Each encourages meaningful insights into how clients rela

This Jeopardy-style game focuses on risk factors related to substance use, setbacks, and relapse prevention planning. These topics are essential for building skills that support long-term progress and positive change, especially when managing co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges. The goal of this game is to make learning these important concepts interactive, engaging, and applicable to real-life situations. Enjoy! First - Here is a free one page Setback/Re

What is Radical Acceptance? - Radical acceptance is the practice of accepting life on life’s terms—completely, fully, and without resistance—even when it’s painful. It means choosing to stop fighting reality, letting go of bitterness, and allowing yourself to be present, without denying, avoiding, or wishing things were different. Credit:  The concept of Radical Acceptance originates was developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan . It is a foundational skill for reducing suffering and i

We are excited to invite Premium Members  of the Taking the Escalator Learning Community  to a LIVE  Zoom seminar on June 20th at 11:00...

An advanced group therapy worksheet to help challenge toxic beliefs and build a new, healthier identity Introduction Once we’ve have done some work identifying the guilt and shame we carry, the next step is often the hardest: changing the story we tell ourselves about who we are.  People who struggle with addiction, trauma, and mental health challenges may carry labels — some given by others, some self-imposed. These labels can become prisons of shame, keeping us stuck in cyc

Exclusive Offer for Existing Taking the Escalator Members (From the old website version) This special offer is for people who previously...

This worksheet is designed to go hand-in-hand with the video Addiction 101 from Taking the Escalator. Do not watch the video without this worksheet or a qualified counselor to guide discussion. Some topics—especially the conversation about relapse and setbacks—require context to avoid misunderstandings. Please note that the video is titled 'Addiction 101' to reflect its purpose as an introductory-level explanation of addiction, intended for those who are still exploring and

Introduction: Everyone has ups and downs. It’s normal for your mood to change throughout the day or week. But when those moods get in the...

Introduction : Distress tolerance is about getting through difficult emotional moments without making things worse. In life, we all face situations where the urge to react — impulsively, destructively, or avoidantly — can be overwhelming. Learning how to manage distress doesn’t mean pretending to be calm or ignoring emotions. Instead, it’s about recognizing emotional pain, accepting it as part of the human experience, and finding healthier ways to respond. In this group sessi

Intro:  Grief is a natural emotional response to loss. Quite often people think of grief as the pain and sadness that follow the death of a loved one — and that is certainly one of the most profound and difficult forms of grief. However, grief can also arise from many other kinds of losses, both big and small, visible and invisible. Loss can take many forms: the end of a relationship, the loss of physical health, the loss of a role or identity, loss of opportunities, or major

Note for Counselor/Group Leader:  There is a lot of material here. Depending upon the level of participation, this could be broken down into two sessions Icebreaker: “Name That Mood!” – Meet Your Mood Characters Directions:  As a group review the list of mood characters below. Discuss which characters on the list sound familiar in your own life. Make sure to review the mood description written in italics  after each one Speedy Steve  – Talks a mile a minute, feels like he can