Taking the Escalator
Taking the Escalator
Substance Use Therapy Tools
Harm Reduction
12 Step Alternatives
takingtheescalator.com Addiction and Substance Use Resources
Non 12 Step Motivational Harm Reduction Tools for Substance Use & Mental Health
Taking the Escalator Therapy Tools
(Same tools, but organized according to the Taking the Escalator Method)
NEW: Ideas, News and Suggestions for Counselors:
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(Brief therapy modules and icebreakers)
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CONFIDENCE BUILDING - (Overcoming Fear of Failure)
Trusting that there are Alternatives
Social Relationships - Setting Priorities
Planning Ahead for Relationship Issues
Learning to Live within Normal Limits
Overcoming Fear of the Unknown
Are You Letting Fear Hold You Back? - Looking at some fears that can be obstacles to progress
Strengths and Weaknesses Examining strengths we have and weaknesses we need to work on in the change process
Anger Styles - What is your anger style?
Anger Attitude Check - Attitude is everything when it comes to expressing feelings
Anger Memories: Family - Looking at what we learned about anger from our family of origin
Anger Discussion Sentence Completion - Simple questions for opening up discussion on anger
Ways People Express Anger - An analysis of different ways people handle anger
Owning and Discharging Anger - Taking responsibility for your feelings and actions
Owning Anger Using "I" Statements - A basic but effective tool for expressing feelings
Anger Management: Digging Deeper and Using Basic AM Skills - Understanding and coping with anger triggers
Three P's for Coping with Anxiety in the Moment - Quick easy to remember way to cope during sudden anxiety or stress
Alcohol and Depression Quiz - A very basic quiz focused on opening up a basic discussion on this topic
Coping with Stress - A comprehensive list of effective coping skills
Killer Bs – The Effects of Stress and the Body, Brain and Behavior
Use Your Brain and Not Your Pain - Another simple but effective strategy for coping with challenging emotions
How Do You Heal? - A look at the healing process for trauma
HP Squared: Hurt People, Hurt People
Unforeseen Circumstances: Adapt or Collapse
Creating an Emotional Self Care Plan
Relationships
READ: The Relationship Analogy
Readjusting Your Relationship Radar - Adjusting the way you choose relationships
The Ideal Partner - Looking at what you want out of relationships
Healthy Life - Healthy Relationships
VIDEO - Healthy Life - Healthy Relationships - Corresponding video for above worksheet
"I Feel Like No One Understands" - Exploring empathy to help build interpersonal relationships
Guilt and Relationships - Coping with the challenges of guilt in relationships
Rules of "Fighting Fairly" - Some basic rules for conflict resolution in relationships
READ - Is Tough Love Too Tough?
READ - Six Qualities of Healthy Couples that Stay Together
R-E-S-P-E-C-T (Find out what it means to me)
Resolving Conflicts without Anger
The Cycle of Over-functioning, Guilt, and Resentment
Escalator Sixth Floor: Managing and Avoiding Setbacks
For Counselors READ: Managing Setbacks Using the Escalator
Also: Setbacks and Engagement- A Guide for Counselors
READ: IF - Intensity and Frequency
Managing Setbacks: Group Introduction
Setback Prevention Skills for Success
Getting Over the Hump - An activity for those who have been at this a long time
UNG- Unnecessary Grief - Thinking and planning ahead to avoid trouble later
Stability and Setback Prevention Checklist
FOMO - How to Identify, Prevent and Overcome the “Fear of Missing Out”
Triggered: A Discussion on Coping with Mental Health and Substance Use
The Setback-Motivation Guide - Start here to determine what areas you need to work on below:
Event Planning to Prevent Setbacks
Weekend Plan - A basic planning tool for surviving weekends
Holiday Survival Plan - Planning ahead to get through any holiday without setbacks or relapse -
Escalator Seventh Floor: Supplemental Suggestions and Considerations
Meaning and Purpose in the Change Process
Coping with Death and Dying - A simple outline for discussing coping with a recent loss without abusing substances
Values, Honesty and Integrity
FOR COUNSELORS READ: Engagement Tool - Values and Values and CBT
VIDEO LINK - Values - What's Important - (Corresponds to the above worksheet)
Lifeboat Activity - Lifeboat exercises are nothing new but this one has had good success
It's Easy to Be Honest When You Have Nothing to Lie About
Values: Past, Present and Future
Personality Issues and Manipulation
READ - Personality Issues: The Honest Truth
READ - Slices of Truth
Getting Your Needs Met: Manipulation vs. Persuasion
Harm Reduction Specific -
(The Escalator method is a harm reduction approach overall however the following info specifically addresses harm reduction issues and topics)
Understanding Harm Reduction and Medication Assisted Treatment -The Basics
Understanding Harm Reduction - The Podcast - (Based on the above outline - click title to listen)
Taking an Honest Look at Abstinence, Harm Reduction, Substitution & Cross Addiction
READ - A Realistic Look at Substitution
READ - Straight D's -A Simple Harm Reduction and MAT Illustration
Adolescent/Young Adult Specific Worksheets and Information
For Counselors: READ: Working with Adolescents and Young People
Adolescent Substance Use - A basic educational outline for those working with adolescents and parents
Adolescent Substance Use Group (Multiple Choice) - This is a kahoot activity for adolescent substance use groups
ADOLESCENTS: RISK FACTORS - Exploring risk factors for substance use issues with young people
Three Paths: A Discussion of Marijuana
Smoking Cessation Specific Worksheets:
Cravings and Smoking: Basic Principles
Cravings and Smoking: Skills List
Icebreakers and Group Cohesion Building -
(These are less about education and more about building up the group in a positive manner which can be equally important)
Group Glue - This one has a little bit of education because it explains the power and value of group cohesion
Brief Group Module and Icebreaker Collection 1 - Multiple shorter activities to choose from in this collection
Brief Group Module and Icebreaker Collection 2 - More
Making the Most out of Substance Use Treatment - This one is different because it is an interactive Kahoot activity
Telehealth Specific Group Cohesion Building Activities - Ideas specifically for virtual video groups
Declare-Disclose-Display - A variety of ways to get the group talking and interacting
Social Media Icebreaker - Exercise for self expression based on social media
Grading the Group - Interactive group report card
Grab Bag - A great list of interesting, questions and other situations to get people talking
Giving Activities - There is more happiness in giving than receiving
Give the Gift of Kindness and Hope
Fill in the Blanks Discussion Generator
Fun Facts - Group Cohesion Building with some substance use and mental health info
Group Member Fill In the Blank - A great exercise to have fun and make group interactive
Describe - Draw - Describe - Get group sharing thoughts and feelings with art
Deep and Personal - Some in depth personal questions for opening people up
Slips of Paper - A quick and easy icebreaker that gets a group talking with no prep time
Unique - Discussing what you would and wouldnt do
Care or Don't Care Icebreaker - Another basic tool for starting group discussion
Majority - Interactive exercise, better for an established group than a new one
Choose or Lose Icebreaker - Some basic multiple choice questions for opening up discussion
3A's - Appreciation, Assessment & Advice
Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks
"Roll Play"...This May Get Dicey
Icebreakers for Break Time - Short but interesting group assignments for breaks in between groups
Sophisticated Debates - Communicating your viewpoint in a respectful way
Pointless Pursuits - (Warning: only try this if you and the group members have established a degree of comfort with one another)
The League of Just Us - A basic activity about superheroes just for fun
Escalator Jeopardy - A comprehensive educational review in relaxed game format
Group Topics, Ideas and Worksheets for Closing Group
Discussion Outline for Speakers or Video
Weekend Relapse Prevention Plan
Goodbye Group - An outline for group when someone is leaving, graduating or moving on
VIDEO: Life Story Video - LB HEARS Episode 1 - Nikki Tierney - (Click to view)
Long Branch HEARS is an organization in Monmouth County, New Jersey, the same area where Taking the Escalator got its start. Long Branch HEARS is a community based group working to do their part to help the substance use epidemic in this area.
Nicole "Nikki" Tierney is a close friend of Taking the Escalator as she has worked closely with Taking the Escalator clinicians during her personal journey of recovery. Nikki's story is engaging and motivating and this video can be used as group therapy tool as your clients will surely be inspired by her story
Additional Submissions by Taking the Escalator
Cross Addiction - Education and exercise on substituting addictive behaviors
How High was I..How Low did I Go? Assessing highs and lows of getting high
Labels - For lower insight levels, comparing what is using, abusing and addiction
Progress Report - Basic progress report worksheet for getting relevant discussion started
Understanding and Coping with Guilt and Shame - Similar to the other but in a different format
COD - Co Occurring Disorders - An older outline about COD's and addiction some people (LH) still like to use (Updated version on About page)
Group Roles - Outline of different ways individuals may protect themselves in group settings
The Disease Concept of Addiction - Review of "symptoms" of addiction
Podcast - A Story of Recovery and Hope: Nicole Tierney
Podcast - Melissa Mackolin's Recovery Journey
Podcast - Megan Reeves "Hold On Pain Ends" with discussion questions
Guest Submissions - Please email takingtheescaltor@gmail.com if you would like to submit an activity for the website
Submitted by Lesley SanFilippo, LCSW:
Submitted by Caitlin Kennedy LCSW, LCADC:
Self Esteem and Affirmation Development -
Submitted by Laura Hennessey, LCSW, LCADC
Submitted by Melissa Lecik, M.Ed, NCC
Submitted by Joseph R. Ginelli:
The 5 W's and H of Negative Thoughts
Reason or Excuse: Product of Your Environment
Submitted by Katie Tracy, LCSW