Co-Occurring Lesson
A psychoeducational lesson and self-reflection guide for people in recovery to examine how addiction has damaged their relationships and learn seven key strategies for rebuilding intimacy.
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Written by Hal Baumchen, PsyD, LP, LADC, this e-lesson combines education and personal reflection to help individuals in recovery understand and repair the relational harm caused by substance use. The core of the lesson walks through seven key areas essential to rebuilding intimacy: restoring trust, creating a safe home, managing scheduling conflicts, balancing life stressors, addressing health concerns, committing to long-term recovery, and healing from past trauma and PTSD. Each area includes a brief explanation followed by a personal reflection prompt. The lesson then shifts to accountability, presenting a checklist of harmful behaviors – viewed from a partner’s perspective – to help readers take an honest inventory of how their addiction has affected those closest to them. A final section invites readers to identify the relationship qualities most important to their partner and consider which changes they are ready to commit to. Closing with encouragement that healing and restoration are possible, the lesson emphasizes patience, self-awareness, and the value of support in the recovery journey.
