Purpose

1. To help group members gain the skills necessary to make successful life transitions.
2. To provide an environment where group members can share insights,
feelings and experiences.
3. To help group members take ownership of their own thoughts, feelings and behaviors and to, ultimately, take responsibility for their choices.

Objectives

1. Identify triggers that lead to poor decision-making.
2. Identify effective and healthy coping strategies.
3. Identify and understand thinking errors.
4. Learn effective problem-solving skills.
5. Learn appropriate relationship skills.
6. Learn productive life skills.
6. Understand how perception influences experience, attitude and behavior.
7. Understand the connection between choices and their consequences and taking responsibility for them.
8. Make successful life transitions!

Evaluation

1. Group members will be given a questionnaire asking them: 1) to identify
a goal that they would like to achieve by attending the group; 2) to
identify triggers that influence them to engage in addictive behaviors; 3)
to identify current coping strategies pertaining to each trigger; and 4) to
describe, on a monthly basis, the issues they have addressed and any
progress they feel they have made toward the achievement of their goal.
2. The progress of each group member will be monitored through monthly
self-report using the above-mentioned questionnaire, as well as through
weekly discussions, activities and assignments.

Method

1. Mandated group members will be assigned to 16 group sessions.
2. Group will be open and will meet weekly for one hour.
3. Group will incorporate a combination of psychoeducational themes and open process/discussion.
3. Group will consist of adult men and women age 18 and older who are mandated through court or place of employment.