The 7 Skills for Addiction-Free Living: Stress Management
by Jon Carlson, PsyD and Judy Lewis
Watch two therapists demonstrate psychoeducational activities to clients in recovery, including relaxation exercises, lifestyle adjustment strategies, thought pattern correction methods, and the creation of action plans for preventing stressful circumstances. 

For those recovering from substance abuse, coping with the daily stress of living can be especially taxing. Suddenly, the old way of relieving anxiety and doubt by using drugs or alcohol is no longer available. Additionally, facing stressful situations can tempt us to resort to less-healthy patterns of behavior in order to cope. So it’s crucial to find new methods for dealing with stress that will support the recovery process rather than threaten to derail it.

In this video, renowned psychologists Jon Carlson and Judy Lewis offer four simple yet effective strategies for managing stressful situations, from paying bills to planning weddings. With a live studio audience in various stages of substance abuse recovery, Carlson and Lewis walk participants through relaxation exercises, lifestyle adjustment strategies, thought pattern correction methods, and the creation of action plans for preventing stressful circumstances. You’ll come away with a renewed confidence in your ability to manage stressful situations without jeopardizing your recovery.
This video is part of the series The 7 Skills for Addiction-Free Living, and is primarily geared towards people in recovery, as well as their family members and loved ones. It is also an excellent resource for educators and trainers in addiction counseling programs, as well as staff at recovery treatment centers. Therapists in private practice will want this in their library to lend to clients struggling with substance abuse.

What therapists are saying…

"Psychotherapists are aware that stress reduction is one of the first steps in approaching anxiety, conflict and panic, and is essential as an alternative to using substances. This quality DVD shows practical relaxation exercises--more tools for the addict in recovery. These exercises are especially appealing to those who learn by example and demonstration. This DVD will be a client pleaser. Your client in recovery will be convinced that your practical help spreads far and wide."

-- Thomas Gonda, Jr, MD, MFT, Berkeley, California
In Depth
Specs
Bios
By viewing this video, you will:
  • Learn two relaxation and meditation strategies for use in any situation;
  • Discover the importance of creating good habits for diet, exercise, and sleep that improve the body’s ability to handle normal daily stress;
  • Identify common stress-creating thought patterns and practice techniques to replace these with stress-relieving thoughts;
  • Make plans to cope with and prevent future stressful situations you encounter in your day-to-day life.

Length of video: 1:55:00

English subtitles available

Individual ISBN-10 #: 1-60124-302-2

Group ISBN-10 #: 1-60124-303-0

Group ISBN-13 #: 978-1-60124-303-4

Jon Carlson, PsyD, EdD (1945-2017) was distinguished professor of psychology and counseling at Governors State University, University Park, Illinois. He was the author of 40 books, 150 journal articles, and the developer of over 200 videos featuring today's leading experts in the fields of psychotherapy, family therapy, brief therapy, substance abuse and treatment, parenting and couples education. Carlson received the distinguished Services awards from the American Psychological Association, the American Counseling Association, International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, and the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology. He was named one of five "Living Legends in Counseling" in 2004 by the American Counseling Association.

Judy Lewis, PhD, is a former Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Addictions and Behavioral Health at Governors State University, Illinois. She is past president of both the American Counseling Association and the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors.
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