Pathways Institute for Impulse Control Orientation Booklet Designed to familiarize participants with the goals, objectives, and procedures of the Pathways Institute for Impulse Control treatment program Pathways Institute for Impulse Control A Psychology Corporation San Francisco, California 415­267­6916 This booklet is designed to familiarize you with the Pathways Institute treatment program. It contains an overview of our program, its goals and objectives, test information, details of our meeting times and place, and other general information. Please read the booklet carefully. It is divided into the following sections: I. Goals of the Program II. Contractual Agreement III. Psycho­educational Group Format IV. Clients' Rights V. Consent Forms VI. Test Information Many people feel anxious about attending the Pathways Institute group and some even report losing a little sleep the night before their first meeting. You can easily overcome much of your anxiety by reading this booklet very carefully and thinking about its contents. Should you have any questions, please call us at 415­267­6916. SECTION I Goals of the Program Goal 1. To accept responsibility for your past behavior and to commit yourself to working towards a different future. It will be of little benefit for you to spend your time denying responsibility for your behavior. Even if you weren't guilty, it will be pointless to waste your time complaining about the world's unfairness. The fact is that the world often is an unfair place. Much of the Pathways Institute program will be beneficial to your life circumstances above and beyond any specific behaviors. So, see what you can give and get out of the program that will be to your benefit. Goal 2. To become fully aware of the consequences of your actions and understand the impact those consequences will have on your future. We will explain to you the possible consequences of your behavior, and what may happen to you if you continue. Please understand that we are therapists not attorneys, doctors, etc., and that you may have some questions that we cannot answer. Consult the appropriate specialist on these issues. Goal 3. To develop a personal plan to avoid future destructive behavior. We hope that you will take advantage of the strategies and techniques learned at Pathways Institute in order to prevent further problems in your life. Goal 4. To discover the reason(s) underlying your behavior. Many of you already know why you have behaved in the way you did; others may not. We will spend time discussing various reasons and motivations for compulsive/impulsive behaviors. Although we cannot guarantee that everyone will be able to discover the reason(s) for their behaviors, usually most people do uncover the reasons during the course of treatment. Goal 5. To become aware of and understand the emotional aspects of your behavior, for example, how depression, anger, fear, and need for attention fit into the picture. Goal 6. To recognize the importance of your basic values and beliefs and how they relate to your compulsive/impulsive behavior. We will ask you to examine some of your very basic values, beliefs, thoughts, and feelings during the program. We do not require that you change anything, just that you be willing to do some self­examination. You may find that these beliefs have a lot to do with your behavior, and perhaps with other concerns in your life. Our research indicates that as a group people with impulse disorders are not "emotionally disturbed". However, we have found out that many individuals with impulse disorders have disturbing emotions that often are connected or related to their behavior. We will examine some of these feelings in the program. You will learn to identify and name these feelings. You will develop skills for containing your difficult and painful feelings in order to no longer act out. These are the basic goals of the program. Should you have questions, consult with our program. Please sign below. ___________________________________________ _____________________________ Signature Date __________________________________________ (please print name here) SECTION II Contractual Agreement for Pathways Institute 1. I agree to participate fully in the program activities, follow instructions, complete assigned homework, attend individual sessions and contribute to the group process. The program is designed to benefit those who participate fully. You will not be forced to do or say anything against your will. We encourage you to take full advantage of the program at Pathways Institute – but if you choose not to, please don't get in other people's way and prevent them from learning. 2. I am aware that I have the right to my opinion and perspective and the opportunity to express it clearly and freely. You are not required to believe anything; you are free to believe what you want. If you disagree with the beliefs presented in the group, please speak up. People learn best when they have a variety of viewpoints to consider and evaluate. 3. I agree that I am responsible for my actions and learning within the group. We do not accept excuses. If you are unclear on something, please ask us to explain it further. Make us work! If you leave the program without having learned anything, we will not accept responsibility for that. It's up to you to learn while in the program. 4. I agree to be on time and to remain in the program until completion. Please be on time and stay for the entire meeting. If you are more than 10 minutes late you will not be allowed to enter the group and will be billed for the session. We do not allow members to attend every other week. We have found that it is not therapeutic for patients and undermines their progress and group continuity. Additionally, you must stay in the program until completion or you will not receive credit for attendance. You are required to attend 16 Psychoeducation Groups to complete this component and make up sessions will be scheduled. Any departures from the program must be discussed with the staff and a two week advance notice of discontinuation must be given. 5. If I am unable to attend a session, I agree to phone, stating the reason. If you are unable to attend an individual session you are required to give us a TWO WEEKS advance notice. If you do not give us a two week advance notice you will be billed for the missed session. 6. I agree not to attend any sessions while under the influence of alcohol or other mood altering substances. 7. I agree to refrain from physical contact or violence while attending sessions. I also agree to refrain from outside contact with other group members. During the course of treatment we ask you to refrain from outside contact and building any kind of relationship with other group members. This promotes safety and equality among all group members. 8. I agree to respect the confidentiality of our group sessions. As members of this group you are asked to keep the confidence and anonymity of all other group members. Please do not discuss the content of another persons sharing or any identifying information about other group members to anyone outside of the group. If you are in individual therapy you may discuss your group experience with your licensed individual therapist as that is a confidential relationship. 9. I agree to make payment in advance for the month. I also agree to making my checks out in advance. 10. I agree to be thoughtful about what I share and how I share it. Try to avoid detailed gratuitous discussions of your behaviors. Try to avoid culling intrigue about your behaviors. We need to understand the difference between thinking about behavior and avoiding thinking by discussing provocative information about it in order to divert you from your goal to stop the behavior. Try to observe when shares are triggering you in the group and bring it to the attention of group to discuss as soon as you notice being triggered. Additionally, please be respectful of others while giving any feedback. 11. I agree to complete all data forms and tests prior to starting psycho­educational group meetings and at follow up. These tests/forms are essential to our program; we ask for your cooperation in completing them as instructed. 12. I understand that the length of the group is structured around the number of attendees. If a group has 3 or fewer members, the group will meet for 60 minutes. If a group has 4­6 members, the group will meet for 75 minutes. For groups that are 7 members or larger the group will meet for 90 minutes. If the membership of the group changes, the group meeting times will be adjusted accordingly. These are the basics of the contractual agreement. Should you have questions, please consult us. Please sign below. ________________________________________________ __________________________ Signature Date SECTION III Psychoeducational Group Format The psychoeducational group covers sixteen topic areas and each session lasts 60­90 minutes. The format of the session includes structured activities, interactive discussion and various media to stimulate work. Each group will have about four to ten members and a group leader. Members are required to keep all information confidential. The material covered in each session is presented below: Module 1: Stages of Change Module 2: Communication Skills Module 3: Impulse Disorders Module 4: Information Regarding Specific Impulse Disorder Module 5: Cognitive Distortions & Thinking Errors Module 6: Emotional Regulation & Anger Module 7: Behavioral Regulation Module 8: Responsibility & Accountability Module 9: Secrets & Shame Module 10: Psychodynamics Module 11: Issue Relevant to Specific Impulse Disorder Module 12: Healthy Lifestyle Module 13: Impact on Others Module 14: Intimacy & Relationship Module 15: Relapse Prevention I Module 16: Relapse Prevention II Weekly homework assignments will be assigned.