Recovery – SMART Recovery Connecticut

Yoga fundraiser on December 16

Yoga is both a useful tool to help in recovery, and an enjoyable way to spend your time.

Yoga instructor Wendy McLeod will be offering three yoga classes at the Episcopal Church of St. Paul and St. James, 57 Olive Street, New Haven, CT from 1:30 PM to 6:00 PM on Saturday, December 16. One class is $10, two for $15, or all three for $25. Funds raised will be used to support legal fees and community advocacy for those hiring a lawyer for the first time through a donation to New Haven Legal Assistance Association.

For more information and to book, see the Eventbrite listing.

Grief Recovery Workshop at USNH in September/October

What: The Grief Recovery Method 8-week Support Group

When: Mondays at 7PM from 9/11 – 10/30

Where: Unitarian Society of New Haven, 700 Hartford Turnpike, Hamden, in the Children’s Chapel

Who: Anyone navigating unwelcome transition, loss, or grief who wants to find peace and possibility in the wake of loss. Limited to 15 participants

Details: Participants should purchase a copy of the Grief Recovery Handbook , and must be available to attend at least 7 of 8 sessions.

USNH member recommended donation $80 for the series (all of which benefits USNH).
Nonmember cost: $295 (scholarships available based on financial need).

Email Rachel Roth at: info@theflourishingspace.com to express interest.

Choice in Recovery – Overview of Alternative Treatment Options

The video on Choice in Recovery’s web site provides a brief overview of several alternative support groups, including SMART Recovery: http://choiceinrecovery.net/

Many of these programs are also listed in SMART Recovery’s EAP flyer.

Rebuilding Trust

The topic of rebuilding trust comes up frequently in meetings. I keep mentioning this talk by Henry Steinberger at the 2013 SMART Recovery Conference. It starts about 3:30 into this video, but the initial short talk on the “pause button” is worth watching too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-phEgUbAuA

New Year Checkup

The New Year is a good time to take stock. After you have checked your smoke detector batteries:

Update your hierarchy of values (HOV). Have your priorities changed?
Review your cost-benefit analysis (CBA). Do you have a clearer picture of the pros and cons?
Look over your list of vitally absorbing creative interests (VACIs). Should you be making more time for them?
Take stock by filling in a lifestyle balance pie. Do you need to work on an area of your life?

If you’re making New Year resolutions, fill in a change plan worksheet. You can use the tools of SMART Recovery to plan and implement many changes in your life.