COMPONENTS OF BEHAVIORAL ACTIVATION

On this page you will find different components of BA that can be flexibly administered to support individuals in recovery.

The BA cycle

The BA cycle shown above portrays the steps utilized by behavioral activation to promote engagement in positive, rewarding activities to optimize the recovery process.

PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES

BA includes a focus on utilizing a three-part approach to help recoverees overcome barriers to successfully engage in treatment. These steps are listed below.

  • Making a treatment goal

  • Think of possible barriers to reach that goal

  • Creating a plan to get through those barriers and backing up the plan with those actions

In BA training, you will learn how to help recoverees orient their minds around values in their lives that they want to reconnect with or establish moving forward in their road to recovery. These values may serve as a foundation to the selection of activities they also identify as personally important and enjoyable. To better understand their values you may ask questions such as:

  • What is important to you about your [relationships, work, hobbies, spirituality etc.]?

  • What is important to you in your recovery?

  • How do you feel about your current focus in these areas?

  • What are some things that you do now that are aligned with these values?

Behavioral monitoring

example of behavioral monitoring

As a part of BA, individuals are encouraged to monitor their activities throughout the day and record how these activities affect their mood, as well as craving levels.

brainstorming activities

BRAINSTORMING

Following conversation around these values, you may support recoverees in brainstorming activities that they can do which align with their identified values. These can be activities that they did in the past but lost connection to, or even a new activity that they want to try out. Activities could include things like: exercising, gardening, reading, journaling, and more.

SMART Goals

SMART goals are a structured approach for recoverees to set achievable goals. It gives an opportunity for individuals to think about goals in a new way. The approach is found in the acronym SMART, which stands for:

Specific - What exactly are you trying to achieve?

Measurable - How will you know when you’ve achieved it?

Attainable - Is it genuinely possible to achieve it?

Relevant - Does it align with your values and objectives?

Timely - When do you want to achieve it by?

SOCIAL SUPPORT AGREEMENTS

Social support agreements are a way for recoverees to connect with those that support them. In addition to the work that is done with the peer coach, contracts are a way for individuals to be accountable for their actions outside of DRP. Contracts are written with three main points: 1) acknowledging the person who supports them 2) thanking that person for supporting them 3) stating how that person can continue to support them in the future. Even if a participant does not have someone in their corner, this challenges the participant to seek community and to find support from outside sources.

There is a contract to support handout located on the “BA RESOURCES” page.