Life (and Stress) After Therapy

By Guest Blogger – Richard Zwolinski, LMHC, CASAC

Have you finished therapy or treatment for mental health or addiction? Are you asking yourself, “What next”? Do you feel a bit like you’ve jumped out of a plane and aren’t sure if the parachute will work? Or worse, aren’t even sure where the ripcord is?

If this sounds like how you feel, you may not have received a written aftercare plan from your therapist. One of the surprising failures of therapy or treatment is that some therapists (together with their patients—this is important), don’t write a cohesive, supportive aftercare plan.  Just as a therapist should work together with you on a written treatment plan in order to help therapy focus on your treatment goals, they should also work together with you on a brief, but relevant plan for when you are done with therapy. Having a plan will help you manage the stress of “going out on your own”.

Partners in Aftercare

Your aftercare plan should list every member of your support network, what I call “partners in aftercare”. Just because you are done with therapy doesn’t mean that you won’t need the support and friendship and guidance of others. After all everyone needs help from others, especially someone in recovery from emotional problems or addiction. Your support network might include family and friends, social services, medical support, religious/spiritual support, employment support, and even the occasional support of your therapist! You should be able to check in with him or her if you have questions. In fact, after therapy or treatment, your primary care therapist should call you within a couple months of leaving therapy to ask how you are doing and to offer additional support, if needed.

Recommended Activities

Your aftercare plan should contain lists of recommended activities that are helpful to your continued recovery (such as group meeting, 12-step meetings, relaxation/meditation, physical exercise, regular medical checkups, meetings with social services, meetings with career counselors, even regular get-together with supportive friends, etc.).  It is helpful if it includes schedules for these activities, as well. Having a written plan reminding you of the frequency of helpful activities as well as recommended dates and times can help you stay on track and cope with stressful situations that arise.

Inspiration-911

Sure you can get inspiration from your partners in aftercare and scheduled activities, but each person is able to discover for themselves at least one, and often more, people, activities—which may include anything from volunteer work to baking to climbing mountains, prayer, books, music, paintings, and so on that really takes them to an inspired place. In therapy I believe it’s important to help people identify at least one, but preferably more, special, personal “Inspiration 911s” –accessible or easily planned activities that uplift you— and tap into them in times of loneliness, sorrow, stress or numbness.

For More Information Please Visit:  www.richardzwolinski.com.