Close and Intimate Relationships in Recovery – Worksheet 2

This worksheet, the second in Hal Baumchen’s Close and Intimate Relationships in Recovery series, guides individuals through an honest examination of how their substance use has affected their closest relationships. It opens with a personal writing exercise prompting readers to recall specific moments where their behavior damaged their relationship. A detailed checklist then invites readers to acknowledge harmful patterns – such as dishonesty, emotional unavailability, manipulation, and verbal abuse – from their partner’s perspective. The second half shifts toward growth, presenting a list of positive traits and behaviors to work toward, and asking readers to consider which changes would matter most to their partner. The worksheet closes with a reflective prompt about how personal change can positively impact the people they love. Designed without shaming or blaming, it serves as a practical tool for building accountability and moving toward healthier, more intimate relationships in recovery.