So what happens in each step…
In this section you will find out what is involved in delivering the 5-Step Method intervention with someone impacted by a loved one’s substance use or gambling behaviour.
When delivering the 5-Step Method the client is in control of the content, and you, the practitioner, are in control of the process. Your role is to guide your client through the steps without advising or fixing anything for them. People are experts in their own life, they have their own answers and solutions. Practitioners empower them with the skills to identify the solutions which suit them best and the confidence to apply them. This intervention is designed to prevent over-servicing and increase self-sufficiency.
Pre-Step 1: Introduction and FMQ
The intervention is designed as a 5 session intervention, but this can be extended or condensed. When we deliver the training we suggest offering the intervention over 6 sessions, to include a pre-step 1, however, this is optional.
During this session you will explain the model and how the intervention was developed. There is no script to follow so you can use your own style and approach to introduce the Stress-Strain-Information-Coping-Support (SSICS) Model.
You will give an overview of the intervention and what they can expect in each session.
Your introduction of the intervention links directly to the SSICS Model, this allows them to understand the process and embark on the journey with you.
During this pre-step you can carry out the Family Member Questionnaire (FMQ) with your client. It is a good time to explain the purpose of the FMQ, and how and who will read the results.
Step 1: Family Member Story
This is the most important step and should not be rushed. In this session you will use your counselling skills to explore your client’s story. You will start to narrow in and support your client to identify specific stresses and how these impact on them.
You will review the FMQ, or complete it if not already done, and focus on section 1 and 2 to support the identification of stresses and strains.
You will start to develop a picture of the network around your client and who else is impacted. During this step you will support your client to speak openly and honestly about their experience without shame or judgement. You will begin the process of normalising their concerns, worries and fears about their situation.
Step 2: Information Needs
Knowledge is power, but it can also be disempowering. When faced with a highly stressful situation, we seek information to resolve issues and reduce our anxiety about the unknown. However, not all information will answer your questions or reduce your stress.
In Step 2 we use our counselling skills to identify relevant and targeted areas of information for our clients. We consider 3 different aspects of information; addiction specific information areas, general information areas and information needs of other people in their network. You will use a combination of delivering the information directly and exploring resources and tools to find reliable and relevant information needs for your client.
Step 3: Coping Responses
When facing a stressful situation we will respond with the intention of reducing the degree of stress we are left with. In this step you will work with your client to explore how and why they respond to stressful situations in the way they do. Your clients will quickly identify how they respond, but you will guide them through the process of identify the advantages and disadvantages of that response for them.
Once they have understood the process for identifying the advantages and disadvantages; you will start to consider what the alternative ways of responding might be for them. You give them time and space to consider the potential advantages and disadvantages of these alternatives and develop a plan for having control over how they respond when next facing a stressful situation.
For those of you with an affinity or background in CBT, you will feel very at home in this session. We are always looking forward and supporting our clients to feel in control over their responses to highly stressful situations.
Step 4: Support Network
In this step you will work with your client to explore and enhance helpful support and agreed communication. This is a powerful step which allows your client to consider who is around and how they impact them.
During this process you support your client to identify how people don’t have to meet every need to be a positive presence in their life. Equally, how do we reduce the negative impact someone has, if we can’t, or don’t want to, cut them from our lives? You will work with your client to identify how they might raise a potentially emotional or contentious topic without it resulting into an argument or causing increased stress.
This is a visual session during which you will support an increased sense of control over how other people may help, or hinder, their ability to manage the stress they are experiencing. It draws heavily on Step 3 to extend their perspective on other people’s responses to the situation.
Step 5: Further Action
While it is evidenced that the 5-Step Method will reduce someone’s experience of stress, strain and total family burden, it is not going to meet every need that your client might present with. During step 5 you will encourage your client to reflect on all of the progress they have made during this intervention.
They will complete the Family Member Questionnaire and compare it with their first questionnaire to highlight the areas of progress and consider areas where they might need further support.
This step should not be overlooked as this is where you will reiterate to your client that all the progress they have made is their own. They have worked hard and have achieved a sense of control in a highly stressful situation.
They can then use these skills to take on other challenges or address other issues, such as accessing ongoing support through support groups, approach other areas of interest, education or employment, access mental health support for underlying needs such as trauma, deal with face financial or legal issues or consider another intervention such as CRAFT. The practitioner’s role in this session is to support your client to develop an achievable action plan and consider contingency plans.