PREVENTION OF BEHAVIOR RElapses

ADDICTIVE BASED ON MINDFULNESS

“The addict, given his illness, often has the urge to consume, sometimes urgently, it is normal. With the
practice of Mindfulness we ensure that these desires are not obeyed reactively (instinctively) but can be
surfed as if it were a wave since, like waves, the desire to consume is usually intense but short in time.
Mindfulness, at first, will be the surfboard that helps us drive the craving for consumption to, with
practice, become the door to the peace and satisfaction so often longed for by the addict in their
consumption” G. Alan Marlatt

INTRODUCTION

A therapeutic program supported by Mindfulness has proven to be superior to traditional approaches to

prevent relapses into addictive behaviors. From this point of view, this theoretical-practical workshop
provides students with basic training on what addictive behaviors, drugs, addicts and their treatments are
and, in an eminently practical way, how to work with Mindfulness to prevent relapses into addictive
behaviors.

Many of us experience small addictive behaviors at some point in our lives (Coca-Cola, tobacco, coffee,
sweets, relationships) that can be used to practice in this workshop.

DESCRIPTORS

Mindfulness. Epidemiology. Self-care. DSM-V. –Aversive therapies-. -12 steps, Minnesota model-. -
Support and accompaniment processes for the addict. -Addict treatment and recovery strategies-. -
Conceptualization and components of addiction-. - Sources and factors of addictions. -Attention and full
awareness-. -Theory, theoretical body, Mindfulness techniques and programs. Investigation. -Prevention of
relapses-. -Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn-. -G. Alan Marlatt-. -Body examination-. -Conscious dialogue-. -
Teamwork experience-. - Personal growth-.- Theoretical perspectives and approaches to addiction
treatment-. -Awareness of triggers and desires-. - Mindfulness in everyday life. -Mindfulness in high-risk
situations. -Acceptance and effective action-. -Balanced lifestyle-. -Social support-.

COMPETENCES

§ Transversal/generic competencies
o Possibility of obtaining, analyzing and synthesizing information using various sources.
o New skills for interpersonal relationships and teamwork.
o Disposition for criticism and self-criticism, assuming an ethical commitment.
o Ability to establish relationships between theory and practice.
o Ability to investigate and learn autonomously.

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 § Specific competencies
Cognitive (Know):

o Identify the concepts, definitions and theoretical foundations of Mindfulness.

o Know the mechanisms underlying the practice of Mindfulness.
o Identify and select various digital and/or bibliographic resources of interest for
Mindfulness.
o Recognize Mindfulness as a valid technique for the treatment and recovery of addicted
people.
o Know and critically evaluate the use of drugs, as well as its influence on the body,
enhancing the functions of support, advice and supervision of addicted people.
o Know treatment processes (and means) that serve to address addictions.

Procedural/Instrumental (Know-how):

o Approach the main techniques and practices of Mindfulness in preventing relapses.

o Experience Mindfulness against addictive behaviors.
o Evaluate Mindfulness as a positive intervention practice in the field of addictions.
o Learn to surf the desire to consume
o Conscious dialogue.

Attitudinal (Being):

o Find a way to be in the “being”, feel the present moment and abandon, even for a few
minutes, the “doing” mode
o Change the reactive way of living for the proactive way.
o Break with “autopilot”
o Maintain a system of personal values prone to progress, development and intervention
with addicted people and their families.

o Put into practice interpersonal skills of empathy, active listening skills, fluid
communication and permanent collaboration.
o Commit to the most disadvantaged groups and contribute, within the scope of their
responsibilities, to improving social cohesion and developing an inclusive attitude.

GOALS

§ Transversal/generic objectives
o That the student considers Mindfulness a valid technique for their work and wants to
continue their learning.
o Have a first experience with Mindfulness and addictive behaviors
o Know how Mindfulness is being applied in the prevention of relapses
o Participate in processes that allow improving the recovery of addicts progressively.
o Obtain and work with information from different sources and formats.
o Use new technologies to collect and present information.

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 § Specific objectives
o Introduce the main concepts and definitions of addictive behaviors.
o Know the beneficial effects of practicing Mindfulness against addictive behaviors.
o Know the main types of interventions and techniques for addiction recovery.
o Promote personal practice so as not to convert Mindfulness into an experimental or
intervention technique, but rather into an experiential or experiential technique.
o Review action strategies based on Mindfulness.

CONTENTS

§ Theoretical module

BLOCK 1. ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS

a. What is the disease of addiction

i. Different manifestations of the disease
1. Types and classification of addictive behaviors
ii. Differences between addicts and consumers of substances or behaviors
b. What is an addict
i. Why does an addict use?

ii. What is the brain of an addict like?

iii. How an addict feels
iv. How you manage your emotions
v. Epidemiology
vi. DSM-V Criteria
vii. General principles of addiction treatment: Phases, types of treatment, problems.
c. What are drugs
i. Basic concepts
ii. Historical setting
iii. Types and classification of drugs
d. Different addiction recovery programs
1. Historical setting
1. Penalty, persecution
2. Aversive therapies, confrontation
3. 12 Steps, Minnesota Model (Breaking Denial)
4. Coaching
5. Mindfulness

• Practical module
BLOCK 2. MINDFULNESS BASED RELAPSE PREVENTION (MBRP) Mindfulness-based
relapse prevention

a. First session: Autopilot and relapses

b. Second session: Awareness of triggers and desires
c. Third session: Mindfulness in everyday life
d. Fourth session: Mindfulness in high-risk situations
e. Fifth session: Acceptance and effective action

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 f. Sixth session: See thoughts as thoughts
g. Seventh session: Self-care and balanced lifestyle
h. Eighth session: Social support and continuation of practices

All these headings are divided into:

i. Session guide
j. . Reception
k. Yo. Goals
l. . Dynamics
v. exercises for home
METHODOLOGY

We will try to get to know ourselves and become aware of what addiction is, how we experience it in
ourselves (conscious dialogue) and what its triggers and consequences are. The second part will deal with
the theory of addictive behaviors from a very different perspective: seen from the experience of the addicts
themselves with their disease. The third part will develop the MBRP program, step by step according to
Marlatt's manual, drawing on the facilitator's personal experience of more than twenty years working with
addicts.

The development of the thematic proposal will be based on a series of procedural principles that aim to:

o Promote the students' capacity for reflection.

o Develop positive attitudes, values and commitment to the treatment of addictions and
Mindfulness.
o Promote critical capacity, for which it is necessary to encourage team debate and free
expression.
o Present knowledge as something problematic, controversial and debatable.
o Promote research and inquiry as basic ways of learning and acting in the treatment of
addictions with Mindfulness.
o Ensure that training experiences are developed in a climate of tolerance, democracy and
respect.
o Promote the joint assessment of the progress of the workshop.
o Facilitate access to different sources of information and experiences in the field of
addictions.

BIBLIOGRAPHY .

a. Live crises fully. Jon Kabat-Zinn. Kairos Publishing House 2003

b. Prevention of relapses in addictive behaviors based on Mindfulness (Clinical Guide) Sarah
Bowen, Neha Chawla and G. Alan Marlatt. Editorial Desclée de Brouwer 2011 ( If you buy it, it
is strongly suggested not to do it in electronic version )
c. The Mindfulness solution. Ronald D. Siegel. Editorial Desclée de Brouwer 2011
d. Mindfulness, a practical guide to finding peace in a hectic world. Mark Williams and Danny
Penman. Paidós Editorial 2013
e. Overcome depression, discover the power of mindfulness techniques. M. Williams, J. Teasdale,
Z. Segal and J. Kabat-Zinn. Paidós Editorial 2010.
f. The joy of living, the secret and science of happiness. Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. Editorial
Rigden institute gestalt 2011
g. In defense of happiness. Matthieu Ricard. Urano Editions 2011.

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