Taking the Escalator Articles

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

This activity invites you to reflect on everyday choices and preferences—then consider what these details might reveal about your personality, lifestyle, and values. Instructions:  For each topic, briefly share your answer (e.g., their bedtime, favorite movie, or weekend activity), then respond to the follow-up question: "What does this say about me?" “Facing the truth is uncomfortable, but avoiding it only prolongs the pain.”

Although there can be a lot of similarities when it comes to each individual’s experience with substance use issues, every person’s journey is unique. Developing a problem with substances often involves a complex array of factors over the course of time.   For this group exercise, group members will identify some contributing factors  related to their own substance use (and mental health conditions as well, if applicable).

Exposure therapy is a highly effective, research-backed approach that helps people gradually overcome fear and anxiety tied to specific...

Depression is increasingly prevalent today, so here's an additional resource for learning about, assessing, and discussing depression. While the Taking the Escalator website already offers a worksheet on Depression, that one provides a broader overview. In contrast, this worksheet delves deeper into Major Depressive Disorder and related topics like self-medication.

This worksheet contains 61 trivia questions based on topics commonly discussed in group therapy related to substance use, mental health recovery, and skill-building. You are free to use these questions in any way that best suits your group. You can choose to go through the questions in order or skip around to keep the group engaged. Each trivia question is followed by an optional reflection question for further discussion. Feel free to use the reflection questions, or skip th