CONTENT
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1) Welcome, Review of Treatment Map, and Agenda-Setting
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Review goals/homework from previous sessions.
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Topics today: (1) realistic expectations of recovery + (2) relapse prevention planning + (3) broader issues related to recovery.
2) Review of Goals/Homework from Previous Sessions (approx. 20 mins)
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Review comparison making behavioural experiment
Questions to ask client:
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Which bias(es) did you decide to challenge?
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What happened?
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What did you learn?
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Review goal to address checking/avoidance behaviour
Questions to ask client:
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What checking/avoidance behaviours did you decide to address?
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How did you do that?
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What were you able to achieve? What are your main takeaways?
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How will you continue to challenge that behaviour in the future?
3) Realistic Expectations of Recovery (approx. 15 mins)
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Recovering from MD takes time – there is no ‘perfect’ recovery that follows a smooth trajectory without lapses. Lapses are normal and to be expected.
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Every setback provides an opportunity to learn more about yourself and adjust your coping strategies to be better prepared for the future.
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It is not the setbacks that define your recovery but how you respond to those setbacks.
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Recovery requires active work to maintain your treatment progress.
Questions to ask client: -
Where are you in your recovery journey? What progress have you made? What challenges remain?
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What expectations and hopes do you have for your recovery? Are they realistic?
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4) Relapse Prevention Planning (approx. 20 minutes)
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Research indicates that a large majority of people with any disorder experience early warning signs 1-4 weeks prior to a lapse.
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These early warning signs might include:
(1) changes in thoughts/feelings/behaviours + (2) increase in overvaluation of weight/shape/control + (3) decline in general mental health or mood.
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Being aware of potential warning signs can help you respond more appropriately to lapses (i.e., not using MD behaviours) and be less vulnerable to relapse.
Questions to ask client: -
What are some signs that things are going well?
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What are some early warning signs that may indicate you are vulnerable to a lapse or setback?
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What potential events/situations increase your vulnerability to having a setback?
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For both when things are going well and when experiencing early warning signs, list some treatment strategies you have learned from this program that you can use to continue the positive momentum or avoid a relapse.
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What are the top 1-2 strategies that you could use for each of these scenarios?
5) Broader Issues Related to Recovery (approx. 5 mins)
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Throughout this program we have worked on addressing the behaviours/cognitions maintaining your disorder.
Questions to ask client:
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What will it look like for you to continue moving forward with your recovery?
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What were the main takeaways from this program?
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What supports do you have in place or are planning to put in place to facilitate further recovery?
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Consider linking the client in with another registered health professional (e.g., psychologist or dietitian) for further ongoing care.
