Recovery Through Balance is a Coaching Program for people recovering from addiction where we work together to create a highly personalized plan to ensure sobriety with support for sober behavior and personal responsibility.

1. The Use of Mindfulness in the
Practice of Recovery Coaching
Recovery Coaching Project
July 24, 2013

2. Awareness
My recovery was greatly impacted by mindfulness…

3. The Healing Power of Mindfulness
Helped me in my own recovery
Increased self esteem, self acceptance
Helps people see another way and gives them tools
“A way of paying attention:
on purpose,
in the present moment,
non-judgementally” Jon Kabat-Zinn

4. Integrates mindfulness practices with relapse
prevention
Based on 8 sessions
Components of session:
• Formal mindfulness practice
• Informal practice
• Coping strategies
Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention

5. Increase awareness of triggers, interrupting habitual
reactive behaviors
Shift from “automatic pilot” to mindful observation and
response
Mindfulness Recovery Intentions

6. Increase tolerance to discomfort thereby decreasing
the need to use or self medicate
Acceptance of present moment experiences instead of
focusing on the next “fix”
Mindfulness Recovery Intentions

7. Body Scan - becoming aware of:
Physical sensations
Urges & cravings
Sitting Meditation
Focused awareness (breath)
Body, emotion, and thought awareness
Walking Meditation
Imagery based Meditation
Mindfulness Recovery Practices

8. S Stop: pause wherever you are
O Observe: what is happening in your body & mind
B Breathe: bring focus to the breath as an anchor
to help focus and stay present
E Expand: awareness to your whole body &
surroundings
R Respond: mindfully vs. “automatically”
“SOBER” Breathing Space

9. Riding the wave, rather than giving into the urge and
being wiped out by it.
Urge Surfing

10. Staying with the urge as it grows in intensity, riding
it to its peak. Using the breath to stay steady as it
rises and crests, knowing it will subside.
Urge Surfing

11. Trusting that without any action on your part, all the
waves of desire, like waves on the ocean, arise
and eventually fade away.
Urge Surfing

12. Adapted from Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
program by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn
Increases mind and body awareness
Unconscious thoughts, feelings and behaviors can
undermine the recovery process
8 Sessions or “Themes”

13. 1: Automatic pilot and relapse
2: Awareness of triggers and cravings
3: Mindfulness in daily life
Present Moment Centered Themes

14. 4: Mindfulness in high-risk situations
5: Balancing acceptance and action
Mindfulness and Relapse Themes

15. 6: Thoughts as just thoughts
7: Self-care and lifestyle balance
8: Building support networks and continuing
practice
Creating a Balanced Life Themes

16. Decreased substance abuse
Increased awareness and acceptance
Reduced cravings
Impacts addictive relapses
Mindfulness Results

17. Mindfulness is applicable for any recovery
Recovery Through Balance

18. Contact Information:
Phone (608) 215-7123
Website: www.janebartels.com
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/janebartels
Resources:
Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Healthcare, and Society
Sarah Bowen, Neha Chawla, Alan Marlatt
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction for Addictive Behaviors
Thank You