Pathways to Recovery

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Overview

Pathways to Recovery is an established, community based, group treatment programme designed to help people with drug and/or alcohol use problems, and co-occurring mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.  These services are available across the Welsh counties of Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Powys. 

The Pathways to Recovery programme includes, up to three pre-group assessment sessions and then 12 weekly 2 hour group programme sessions.  Running concurrently with the group work clients are also offered 12 one to one individual keyworking sessions to help clarify the content in the group sessions and allow time to set personal goals and action plans. 

The programme uses cognitive behavioural therapy approaches and a psycho-social interventions model to help participants learn new skills and tools to resolve their difficulties and is designed specifically to address both substance use and mental health problems.

This programme is designed to enable people to identify the most significant areas affecting their drug and/or alcohol use, mental health or lifestyle difficulties.  Participants can develop a personalised approach to help them to overcome their problems and achieve a healthy and balanced lifestyle that can be sustained a long time after sessions.

Our ‘lifestyle balance model’ is used to help each participant better understand and deal with their problems by addressing lifestyle issues, as well as thoughts, feelings and behaviour.

Below is an overview of the areas addressed on each of the 12 weekly sessions of the Pathways to Recovery group programme.

Pathways to Recovery Group Programme Summary

 

Week 1:

Introduction to the Group programme

Week 2:

Understanding substance dependence

Week 3:

Staying safe

Week 4:

Managing cravings and urges

Week 5:

Sobriety sampling

Week 6:

Building relationships and social networks

Week 7:

Self-incentivising

Week 8:

Understanding mental health

Week 9:

Overcoming negative thoughts

Week 10:

Breaking destructive behaviour patterns

Week 11:

Exploring negative beliefs

Week 12:

Creating a roadmap to success

Who will benefit from being on the programme?

Anyone who is experiencing difficulties with both:

  • alcohol and/or drugs (including prescription medication)

and

  • mild to moderate mental health problems such as depression or anxiety.

The criteria for referral for assessment for the Pathways to Recovery group programme are:

  • co-occurring substance use and mild to moderate mental health problems (such as depression or anxiety)
  • aged over 18
  • a readiness for change and motivation to work on their substance use and improve mental wellbeing
  • willingness to reflect on their thoughts, feelings and behaviour

It is expected that clients will have undergone an initial phase of treatment and will be ready to consider the next steps in their recovery journey. 

Who will be running the programme?

We are staffed by a highly experienced, specially selected and trained team of professionals, drawing from different therapeutic disciplines within areas of drug and alcohol use, and mental health.

We deliver the Pathways to Recovery programme through partnerships with existing organisational staff in different localities across Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Powys and independent Practitioners recruited by Helping Groups to Grow.

Is there any aftercare available?

For those who have completed the group programme we also have support groups set up in Pembrokeshire and Llanelli and are setting up similar support groups in the other localities the Pathways to Recovery groups are being run.  These are being run in partnership with the SMART Recovery UK programme.

How can I get on the programme?

Referral to the programme can only be made through the existing substance misuse and mental health services.  A keyworker or care co-ordinator from one of these services can make a referral direct to the Pathways to Recovery service. 

Click here for a copy of the Referral form.

Programme Evaluation

An independent evaluation of the Pathways to Recovery group programme has been completed.  This incorporated, an extensive statistical analysis of treatment outcomes as well as interviews with, service users, partner agency managers and staff and the group programme leaders.  The results from this evaluation have shown clinically significant improvements in all areas including improvements in mood and social functioning and reductions in anxiety scores and substance dependence. 

To see the complete Evaluation Report click here.

For further information and details of how to refer, or be referred, onto the Pathways to Recovery group work programme please contact us by email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)