Resilience for the Inward Journey: A Program for Overcoming Addiction: Leader's Manual

by Paschal Baute, Maurice Mercier, Susan Waggener (Cover Design)

RESILIENCE FOR THE INWARD JOURNEY is a program designed to counter the revolving-door aspect of addiction rehab systems. Developed and validated over ten years in a non-violent, repeat-addictive offenders’ program in a county detention center, this program incorporates the best of addiction psychology, positive psychology and spiritual growth from a non-creedal perspective. A Participant’s Workbook and a Leader’s Manual explain and teach the program. The workbook is the participant’s guide, consisting of twelve lessons with worksheets for reflective completion and transitioning to a new way of life. The leader’s guide includes the twelve lessons plus information for developing and guiding the individual participant. Community groups will find in the leader’s manual all the guidance they need to implement and guide this creative therapy program as part of their outreach. The Participant’s Workbook is best used in collaboration with a mentor or coach. Both workbook and manual are the result of 40 years of professional experience in corrections of Paschal Baute, Ed.D., psychologist, and Maurice Mercier, human services consultant and Resilience program director, working both together and in different addictive settings. With input from repeat addictive offenders as well as numerous highly educated volunteers, this program evolved using an understanding of the psychology of addiction as well as positive psychology. Through all, an interfaith spirituality was employed based on promoting understanding among faith perspectives and finding grace in non-creedal views of faith and grace. Through this program, awareness and skill is developed for staying clean and sober, no matter what. This program reduces the common revolving-door aspect of many programs. All involved in this program—team leaders and participants, volunteer counselors and repeat addictive offenders—experienced life-changing moments. The new awareness each week was refreshing, encouraging, and inspiring. Each participant had the daily experience of re-affirming life changing choices. We have much evidence from our graduates that the rehabilitation is maintained. Each of twelve lessons, with explanatory narrative, checklists and inventory, provides solid information on one topic and a series of questions that challenge one’s status in life. All facts—the psychological, intellectual, spiritual, emotional and physical—are addressed. Each lesson leads the participant one step closer to his or her resilience with sobriety and a new lifestyle. The lessons 1: How Do I Start the Process Correctly? 2: What Is the Groundwork for Me to Change? 3: What Is the Rule of Life for the Brave Warrior? 4: Am I a Professional Self-justifier? 5: Am I Facing All My Addictive Behaviors? 6: How Do I Really Know Myself? 7: Who Needs Forgiveness? 8: How Do I Re-discover My Life Story? 9: Who is the Higher Power in My Life? 10: How Am I Changing My Lifestyle? 11: Am I Ready to Live My New Life Story? 12: How Do I Develop My Life Action Plan? This program provides a complete road map for one's choices in their life journey. Total wellness with sobriety becomes the goal.

212 pages, Paperback

Published October 6, 2016