Phase I

Self - awareness and Acceptance

(Session 1)

Goals of Session

1. Help clients be aware of his own self by identifying his strengths and weaknesses to
change, improve and enhance his self-image;
2. Help clients understand that accepting their substance use disorder is the first step
in gaining control of their lives;
3. Help clients understand that accepting their substance use disorder is not a sign of
weakness; and
4. Participants will be introduced to the concept of disclosure.

Begin with the question…“What is Self - awareness?”…

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 Self - awareness is knowing yourself or just
about being aware of who you really are as a
person. It is being aware of your needs, skills, personal
interest, values, and hopes and dreams.

In our ordinary days, we usually heard others or

even us saying.. “Stay true to yourself.” This phrase sounds
easy to say but the truth is… it’s not easy to stay true if you
don’t know who you really are.. thus, the next question is…
“Are You Self Aware?”…

Some would say.. “Yes!”.. Some would say.. “No!”… while others would say .. “Maybe.. let
me reflect on it in a moment.. for then I would know…”

To get into it, we have an activity 1 called.. “Self - Evaluation”.. and activity 2 called..
“Acceptance Test”

Activity 1 Who am I?

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 “I am a…” “They say that I am…”

Self-Evaluation

“The things I valued most are...” “Who I am?...”

Activity 2 Accepting One Self

YOU DO NOT NEED TO “HIT BOTTOM” TO BEGIN RECOVERY

Answer the question:

Ask each1.client
I amon
a drug
theiraddict…
answers(Yes)____________ (No) ___________
on Activity 1 “I am a…”, “They say I am a…”, “The
things I valued most are…”, and “Who I am..”. Give each client an ample time to expressed
his answers. 2. I wish I can use drugs again… (Yes) _____________ (No) ____________
Reminder:
3. Most
I needImportant
to work on,Counseling Skill isI have
on the things LISTENING andthat:
accepted applying the acronym
“S.O.L.E.R.”_________________________________________________________
S – Face the client Squarely (that is, adopt a posture that indicates involvement)
O – Adopt an OPEN posture. Sit with both feet on the ground to begin with and with
your hands on your lap in a relaxed manner.
L – As you face your client, LEAN toward him or her. Be aware of their space needs.
E – Maintain EYE contact. Looking at the person suggest that you are interested and
concerned.
R – As you incorporate these skills into your attending listening skills, RELAX.

Ask clients to discuss their experiences with trying to stop using substances before
they entered treatment. Did they try to “just say no?” Were some clients just hanging on for
dear life?..
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Ask clients whether they have accepted their substance dependence. How did their
approach to abstinence and recovery change once they accepted their problem?..
 (Process clients answers…)

“Just say no” is good advice to stop people from trying drugs. But it does not help people
who are substance dependent. Overcoming substance dependence requires that you recognize its
power and accept the personal limitations that occur because of it. Many people accept the hold
that substance dependence has over them when they enter treatment. But entering treatment is
the first act of acceptance. It cannot be the only one. Recovery is an ongoing process of accepting
that substance dependence is more powerful than you are.

Accepting that dependence on drugs has power over you means accepting that human
beings have limits. Refusal to accept a substance use disorder is one of the biggest problems in
staying drug free. This refusal to give in to treatment can lead to hanging on to abstinence
desperately because you isolate yourself and refuse to accept help. Admitting that you have a
problem and seeking help are not weaknesses. It’s like asking… Does getting treatment for diabetes
or a heart condition mean you are weak-willed person?... Of course… Not!

Accepting the idea that you have a substance use disorder does not mean you cannot
control your life. It means there are some things you cannot control. One of them is the use of
drugs. If you continue to struggle with trying to control the disorder, you end up giving it more
power.

There is a paradox in the recovery process. People who accept the reality of substance
dependence to the greatest degree benefit the most in recovery. Those who do not fight with the
idea that they have a substance use disorder are the ones who ultimately are most successful in
recovery. The only way to win this fight is to surrender. The only way to be successful in recovery
and get control of your problem is first to admit that it has control over you.

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 On the other hand, now that you have revisited yourself, it’s good to be refreshed again of
your inner strength and weakness and even the things in life you really valued.

To go deeper in becoming self-aware, we have this “Levels of Awareness” by James Pruitt.

In his pursuit, he illustrates the levels of self-awareness in a pyramid form.

Levels of Awareness

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 Ato
ne
me
nt
Higher Self

Personal Identity

Values/ Principles

Thoughts/ Beliefs

Actions

Denial/ Blame

(Illustration by James Pruitt)

Level 1 is DENIAL OR BLAMING. Who have you

known who will tend to accept the circumstances he had
done or failures?... Some people would usually tend to
blame the fault to others because he cannot accept the
fact that after all.. he made a mess.. he made a mistakes.
They think of being right by making a justification on their
acts.

The next level of self-awareness is you are aware of your

ACTIONS which is either good or bad. Helping other people in

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times of calamity... rescuing abandoned children are good actuations while, getting personal things
of others without permission or their knowledge, abusing women and their children, provoking
others for a fist fight, drowning self into alcoholic drinks, smoking and use illegal drugs.. to name a
few, are the bad actions that others are doing. The more you’ve becoming conscious of your
actuations, the more you’re becoming self-aware.

Level 3 is you are aware because you are thingking of it.. it is in your THOUGHTS/BELIEFS..
it is in your mind.. and it is what you believe in.

Now, let me ask you.. “what do you believed in?”… for

your faith will guide and lead you every step of the way. You can
determine what is good and what is bad.

If you have a new mindset, then it will create a new

results.. and that’s one need to do.

VALUES AND PRINCIPLES sets the 4th level of self-

awareness. The persons’ values and principles are assembled
from his faith - from what he believed-in. A person who believes
that “the best things in life aren’t things.. it’s Family,” would do,
work and strive more to keep his family together.. to keep his
family united.. and happy. His commitment, love and respect
endures as it is His purpose of life. More, most of the time, it’s not hard for him to make decisions
at times of adversities because he know what’s his values are.. and stands up for his principles.
There is no such thing as exactly the same in this planet in
terms of Personal Identity, for even twins has its own differences.
PERSONAL IDENTITY stands as the 5th level of self-awareness.

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 Everyone has its own Personal Identity. Like in jail setting, indexing of Persons Deprived of
Liberty (PDL) upon commitment inside jail is a vital record/document undertaken-administered
kept and maintained by the Records Officer to ensure the legitimacy and veracity of a person.

Every individual is unique, beautiful, loving and caring. Good in nature. Nobody wants to be
bad.. Believe that you were born out of and because of.. LOVE. But if the case were like from
“rape” or “unwanted pregnancy”, have faith.. believe.. that you are so loved as Who You Are.. You
were born.. because you are the GREATEST GIFT.. has a PURPOSE.. and has a GREAT MISSION TO
FULFILL.

The 6th level is the HIGHER SELF. You are self-aware if you
acknowledge and continuously enrich your self – your intellect,
your talents and skills, your health, relationships, your spiritual
connections with the Almighty.

Remember that the greatest love of all is LEARNING TO LOVE YOUR SELF.. LOVING
YOURSELF.

And the last level of self-awareness is ATONEMENT. Being

different, unique, imperfect, capable of doing good and bad..
hurting others is imperative that one should know how to
recognize imperfections, accept being wrong, repent, take a
lesson and learn from it, forgive and move on.

One should know how to recognize own mistake and ask forgiveness because in one way or
another you have been part of the problem. Accept and learn that the situations would not be the
same without you.

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 After all, have always in mind this.. be aware that you are
rare... special.. loved.

You deserved Recovery.. you deserve to be at Peace..

you deserve to be Happy.. you
deserve to be Healthy.. you deserve to be Carefree.

If before, you feel worried.. stressed.. sad.. confused.. or

low... after weeks of undergoing the program - if not today,
tomorrow.. or next after tomorrow.. Our Goal.. Your GOAL should
be.. of becoming and to feel confident.. in control.. hopeful..
cheerful.. and happy of your life!.

And always remember that the best things in life are actually free -
Hugs.. smiles.. friends.. kisses.. family.. sleep.. love.. laughter.. and
good memories.

And from this day on until the end of the program, together, we are
creating good memories for each one.

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