Self-Care
Treating yourself with the care you'd give a good friend isn't indulgence. In recovery, it's how you build coping skills without the presence of substances.
What the module covers.
The module defines self-care as deliberate care, understanding, and compassion toward yourself (the oxygen-mask-first principle) and makes the case for why it matters in recovery: lower anxiety, better coping, more physical and mental energy, and the daily structure that supports long-term success. Participants take a self-care assessment to see where they stand.
From there, the module explores five types of self-care: physical (exercise, sleep, nutrition), mental (including the C-T-F-A-R model, which traces how a circumstance leads to a thought, a feeling, an action, and a result), emotional, relational, and spiritual. Participants also learn grounding techniques to detach from overwhelming emotions by focusing on the external world. The module closes with a reminder to release perfectionism — every small step is progress.
The benefits: anxiety, blood pressure, energy, and coping skills" change to "decreased anxiety, lower blood pressure, more energy, and improved coping skills
Topics.
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What self-care is and why it's central to recovery
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The benefits: anxiety, blood pressure, energy, and coping skills
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Five types of self-care: physical, mental, emotional, relational, spiritual
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The C-T-F-A-R thought model: changing the thought that drives the result
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Grounding techniques for overwhelming emotions
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Building a personal self-care plan
Module package contents
- Facilitator deck (correctional version)
- Facilitator deck (community version)
- Implementation guide
- Activity list and required materials
- Discussion prompts
- Pre-test and post-test (editable)
- Print-ready handouts and worksheets
Adapted for context
| Correctional | Community |
How it's delivered.
Sessions move through discussion, assessment, and hands-on planning. The centerpiece activity is a personal self-care plan covering seven areas: positive things to do, safe places to go, personal strengths, triggers, people to call, what has helped before, and affirmations of comfort. Participants also receive guided meditation resources (Self-Compassion.org, Insight Timer) and close with a journal commitment to one small act of self-care in the coming week.
BRING BRIGHTER PATH TO YOUR FACILITY
We work with correctional facilities, reentry organizations, and community recovery programs.
Whether you're looking for a complete eight-module series or a single workshop to fill a specific gap, Brighter Path is built to fit the population, facility, and the facilitator.