12/23/EIOP

 Facilitator: 

Dr. Scott Horowitz

Evening IOP

12/23/25                                            





6-6:30 PM       Holiday Check-In 

     1. How are you feeling about the next 24–48 hours?

      2. Are there any holiday‑related triggers you’re anticipating?

      3. What’s one tradition you’re skipping or modifying to support your recovery?  


6:30-6:50 PM "Did you know?"

Did you know that in the last 50 years there have been over ten thousand movies made about addiction and recovery. Click the link below. What are your top 5 Recovery / Addiction Stories?

The top 95plus Movies Featuring Addiction and Recovery


6:50-7:50 PM  How do you maintain your recovery and mental health during the holidays? Choose at least 5 from the list below. There are no right or wrong answers. Focus on what is realistic and helpful for you. Be prepared to discuss with the group.

  1. Attending Support Meetings
     Provides structure, accountability, and connection during a high-risk season.

  2. Calling or Texting a Support Person
     Reduces isolation and interrupts urges before they escalate.

  3. Setting Clear Boundaries
     Protects emotional and physical safety by limiting exposure to triggers.

  4. Mindful Breathing
     Regulates the nervous system and reduces anxiety and cravings in the moment.

  5. Having an Exit Plan
     Increases a sense of control in social situations involving substances.

  6. Daily Routine
     Maintains stability and predictability when the holidays disrupt normal schedules.

  7. Reality-Based Thinking
     Challenges “rose-colored” or catastrophic thoughts about substance use or family dynamics.

  8. Grounding Techniques (5-4-3-2-1)
     Anchors attention to the present when stress or dissociation increases.

  9. Saying “No” Without Over-Explaining
     Supports assertiveness and reduces people-pleasing behaviors.

  10. Journaling
     Allows emotional processing instead of internalizing stress or acting impulsively.

  11. Medication Adherence
     Stabilizes mood, sleep, and anxiety symptoms during emotionally intense periods.

  12. Limiting Time at High-Risk Events
     Reduces exposure to triggers while still allowing connection if desired.

  13. Gratitude Practice
     Shifts focus away from loss or comparison toward what is stable and supportive.

  14. Physical Activity
     Releases stress hormones and improves mood through natural dopamine regulation.

  15. Healthy Sleep Hygiene
     Protects emotional regulation and reduces relapse vulnerability.

  16. Self-Compassion
     Counters shame and unrealistic expectations during the holidays.

  17. Using Distraction Skills
     Redirects attention during cravings or emotional spikes.

  18. Structured Holiday Plan
     Prevents idle time and reduces impulsivity.

  19. Acceptance of Imperfection
     Reduces pressure to meet idealized holiday expectations.

  20. Reminding Myself “This Is Temporary”
     Helps tolerate discomfort without escaping through substances.

  21. Limiting Social Media Use
     Reduces comparison, loneliness, and emotional triggers.

  22. Practicing Emotional Labeling
     Naming emotions decreases their intensity and increases control.

  23. Engaging in Service or Helping Others
     Builds purpose and connection beyond oneself.

  24. Using Affirmations or Recovery Mantras
     Reinforces commitment to recovery during moments of doubt.

  25. Avoiding People, Places, and Things
     A proactive relapse prevention strategy

  26. Checking In With a Therapist or Case Manager

Provides professional support and accountability.

7:50-9:00 PM Watch the short film, The Journey. 

Click Here to View The Journey

🎥 Virtual IOP Activity: The Journey – Recovery & Dual Diagnosis Reflection

Directions:
After watching the 25-minute segment of The Journey, take a few minutes to reflect on the questions below. Be honest and non-judgmental with yourself. These questions are designed to help connect the film to your own substance use and mental health recovery.

1. Insight & Identification (CBT / MI)

What thoughts, emotions, or experiences did you relate to most in the woman’s story, and how do those connections reflect challenges in your own substance use or mental health recovery?
Purpose: Builds insight, emotional awareness, and personal relevance.

2. Triggers & Vulnerability (Relapse Prevention)

What internal or external triggers contributed to the woman’s addiction, and which of these triggers are also present in your life today? How do they affect your mood, anxiety, or cravings?
Purpose: Identifies shared risk factors across SA and MH symptoms.

3. Coping & Skill Use (Evidence-Based Skills)

What healthy coping strategies or supports did the woman use in her recovery, and which of these could you realistically practice when experiencing cravings, depression, anxiety, or stress?
Purpose: Reinforces adaptive coping and skill transfer.

4. Beliefs & Self-Talk (CBT / Trauma-Informed)

How did the woman’s beliefs about herself change throughout her recovery, and what unhelpful beliefs or self-talk might you need to challenge in your own recovery journey?
Purpose: Targets shame, self-stigma, and cognitive distortions.

5. Motivation & Forward Planning (MI / Recovery Orientation)

After watching this segment, what is one meaningful step you can take this week to support both your sobriety and mental health, even if motivation feels low?
Purpose: Encourages commitment to action and integrated recovery.









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