Been There, Done That: An Early Intervention Group Activity for Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders
- Kenneth Pecoraro
- 8 hours ago
- 2 min read
Sometimes the best group discussions do not start with the words addiction, mental health, or treatment. Sometimes they start with something much more relatable:
Staying up too late
Buying something you never use
Saying “starting Monday” for the tenth time
Feeling emotionally exhausted
That is the idea behind “Been There, Done That” which is an interactive early intervention group activity designed to gently increase self-awareness while reducing defensiveness and shame
Why This Activity Works
One of the biggest challenges in early intervention work is that many people do not initially identify themselves as having a “serious problem.” Direct confrontation or overly clinical language can sometimes increase resistance, shutdown, or superficial participation.
This activity approaches things differently.
Participants first complete a checklist-style grid of relatable experiences and behaviors, ranging from harmless and funny experiences to more subtle warning signs
The key is that the categories are not immediately revealed. Participants often begin by sharing, connecting, and realizing how common many of these experiences are. This creates psychological safety and lowers defenses before deeper processing begins.
As the discussion develops, participants begin recognizing patterns in themselves and others without feeling singled out or attacked.
The “Reveal” Moment
One of the most powerful parts of the activity comes later when participants learn that:
some items discussed reflected common human experiences
some focused on subtle substance use warning signs
others focused on mental health warning signs and emotional struggles
This sets the table for meaningful discussion on substance use and mental health warning signs, in a non-threatening manner.
The activity helps reinforce an important early intervention concept:
A warning sign does not automatically mean someone has a diagnosis or severe problem but patterns still matter. Awareness matters. Honesty matters.
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