Entry Core Stream | Level 1 | Part 2
Folder (B)

Part 6-Section 2, Survey E
Hurdles to Recovery
Considerations: Both surveys “B” and “E” offer an overview of the recovery landscape and challenges. This landscape represents the constituents of recovery that paint a picture of the person’s current status. The talking points listed below, for various sections of the forms are used to evaluate, discuss, address and formulate actionable steps. Talking points, in the form of inquiry questions, are provided for both surveys and are asked by the treatment provider in order as laid out.

Recovery Talking Points:
1) Speak to what it has been like living under the weight of The Illness and the hardships faced, to date…. what has been affirmed, or surprised you or is revealed to you by what you see in the landscape of Hurdles?

2) Through the hurdles identified, that feed the life of “The Illness”, what are you beginning to see about the weight load you have been carrying all this time…. what degree of understanding and compassion can you speak to regarding how you managed to face the weight of the struggles endured… speak to what it took for you to do so… what can you take away that is appreciative, in some way, for how you have kept standing in your life to date…. how does knowing what you appreciate about yourself feel to you…. through this appreciation what can you give yourself credit for… what has it been like hearing the words being spoken from your lips?

3) Since you have not completely crumbled under the weight of The Illness, what would you attribute this to based on the recovery landscape of drivers identified, and what leads you to think this way?

4) What hurdles identified over the life of The Illness have stubbornly latched onto your life, not wanting to abate in intensity or relinquish their hold altogether…. how has this affected your attitude towards getting your life back on track… would you say holding onto this attitude has worked in your favor to support making a recovery possible… if this attitude continues to be kept close to your chest where would you speculate this would take your life in the long run… is this attitude a position you want to continue or note…. why would you think this way… what might this position be telling you about the kind of stance you can or are prepared to take with The Illness…. what are your thoughts on this development?

5) In speaking to your ability to hold such a stance just mentioned in the previous reply, what can this begin to inform you about what you possess of value that may not have been given due credit by yourself… how evident or aware were you of this possession….what in your mind can this acknowledgement begin to say to you about what you want for yourself though presently limited by The illness… how does this acknowledgement sit with you…by holding on to this acknowledgement what good do you think can come from this form of awareness as you considers your recovery journey?

Part 7
Section 2, Survey F
Top 6 Hurdles
Considerations: The top 6 hurdles on deck represent what is considered the most relevant barriers to work on. Working on these barriers means either dampening their influence or eliminating their presence altogether, if feasible. Take into account conditions, like sleeping, eating, sedentary time, interests, sports participation, roles engaged, social company, routines, and daily circadian cycle, i.e. morning, midday, afternoon, evening, night, for example, that influence either the increasing or decreasing of the stress endured by the existence of the hurdle.

Put in place actionable steps that are reasonable, achievable and measurable with the available resources at hand.

Note: Keep in mind that his protocol’s aim is not to remove all of life’s struggles, stresses and pains, as this is unrealistic. There are times when there is a need to accept living with the “essential pain” tied hurdles of all strips when all has been done for now and or revisited at a future time. This attitude of acceptance can be freeing. To assist with any form of radical acceptance of this nature, “mindfulness” as a learned practice can culture this attitude

Recovery Talking Points:
1) Speak to how long has each hurdle on the Top 6 deck existed…. how did these hurdles come to be… share with me how each hurdle stresses you out… how are these hurdles collectively holding your life back… how has this affected, in any way, your psyche in the way you think, feel and view your living of life..speak to, if you will, about how you have managed to stave off not allowing the stress and pain of these hurdles to take more out of you and your life than it currently has… in describing this staving off, what is this potentially pointing out about what you are holding of value for your life… how has holding to this value for all this time allowed you to navigate your life in tough times… reflect a moment and share a story from your life of how this value in action has been of benefit…by being able to hold onto such value’s of importance through thick and thin what can you acknowledge about yourself that you may not have given yourself much credit for…what is it like hearing this from your lips…how familiar is this self acknowledgement to you… is this an acknowledgment worth keeping for your recovery and why…comment on what this acknowledgment says about what you want to bring forth in your life … speculate on this… suppose you did not hold such values of importance… what would the state of your life be like in the grip The Illness… what might this reply say to you about the role and influence one can bring to bear on one’s life through holding on to values in action that make an impact… how does this position expressed sit with you and why… what for you can be taken away as a message (s) from this sharing that may be useful to consider going forward in your recovery?

2) What can you think of from your observation, so far, that has influenced making the hurdles more visible in your life than it needs to be, like poor sleep; skipping meals; poor nutrition; experiencing self-defeating thoughts; isolation; the company you keep; neglecting routines of importance; leading a sedentary life; loneliness or neglecting daily living activities, family, friendships, for example… what might this acknowledgement, say about the role of your input to influence the hurdles impact… speculate on the implication of  your role and place in making a recovery possible…how does making such a statement sit with you…what can be a take away of the message by this stance…why would you say this… as a result of this stance what are you saying about what you are valuing…how may holding such values infect you’re thinking and feeling for the better…what can be derived that is of benefit by culturing this way of thinking and feeling to making a recovery possible…is this something you want more of or less of…why would you take this position…speculate on what you are giving importance to in your life by taking this position…how does this leave you?

3) How do these top hurdles, collectively, impact your experience of living with The Illness…. how concerned are you by this…. what kind of life can you imagine if these concerns are not addressed… would such unaddressed concerns advance a recovery or be a deterrent for a better life, yes or no… the paradox of acknowledging that your consciousness continues to hold a value for a “better life” what can this say about your capacity to hold such value themes and not allow them to be snuffed out entirely by living with The Illness…what in your mind is worthwhile about knowing this…how do you feeling about this…The Illness wants a suffering life for you, as presently experienced, what is the message contained in holding onto such value themes for a “better life” demonstrating… what are your thoughts on this development?

Part 8
Section 2, Survey G
The Dragging Effect

Considerations: The weight carried by a person living with The Illness is called the Dragging Effect. The value placed on this weight is subjectively scaled. This scaling as a weighted value counters the Uplifting Force value attached to recovery drivers. The objective is to diminish the Dragging Effect while increasing the lift of the Uplifting Force to carry the Hurdle’s resistance to recovery while enhancing the drive for recovery.

Recovery Talking Points:
1) What can the weight of the Dragging Effect, by the scoring, begin to tell or show about the degree of stress load being carried by you…. what can you tell me about the nature of this impact on family, friendships, intimacy, interests of importance, daily living activities, income, community involvement, partner relationships, keeping of commitments or roles of significance…what kind of picture is this painting for you?

2) Speculate on this, based on the weight of the Dragging Effect, what you might think this is telling you about its connection towards supporting “Illness Centered Living” in your life….describe how your Illness Centered Living plays out in your life…describe what this has been like for you?

3) If the current Uplifting Force value was less by a quarter of where it is now, what difference would this have on (a) your experience of living with The Illness, (b) your mindset for recovery and (c) the drive for recovery… what is this reflection informing you of regarding the value and role of The Uplifting Force in the recovery equation?

Note: Review and evaluate the impact of the Dragging Effect with the counter-balance of The Uplifting Force. Allow this evaluation to offer feedback on its presence to further carry a recovery forward. As well, explore its connection with living more in a Person Directed Life as opposed to an Illness Centered Life. Note the tone this can set with one’s relationship with The Illness.

Part 9
Section 4
The Recovery Report Card
Considerations: This is a report that has many functions. It subjectively evaluates recovery progress; used as a global diagnostic tool to point to problem areas to further investigate; to assess the patient-physician relationship; to reinforce the application of The Recovery Protocol Breakthrough and as an accountability tool with a sign-off for both consumer and provider.

Conversation Points:
1) With a review of each question, 1-7, what comes to mind about what is being illuminated as it pertains to markers of recovery vs. just symptom markers of treatment?

2) Speculate on what this evaluation, on the whole, can be inferred about what is the difference between Illness-Centered Living and Person-Centered Living experienced, to date, in making a recovery.

3) What in your mind, is your takeaway, so far, about the value of seeing a mental disease not as a “fixed” entity but in “Relational Terms”, as a “fluid” process (See Discovery Exercise “Who is at The Helm)?

4) What core questions posed on this card, would in your mind, be considered markers of progress for you over and above the others for oneself…explain your selection?

5) What tenants of Recovery Orientation (see subject page), in your estimation, are strongly favored by you in The Treatment Room that is making the difference for your recovery progress….are there any tenants, if at all that you would like to see strengthened…what can you speak to that could facilitate this?

6) When both of us place our signatures on the report card what are you signing off on that matters in your eyes…what does this demonstrate to you about your recovery status to date?

Note: All Flash Drive Forms should be fresh and current in data at all times. An updated copy is to be held by the physician as well as the client at all times in The Treatment Room.

(See Appendix for printable Recovery Talking Points for Entry Core Stream, Secondary Core Stream and Advanced Core Stream, both Folder A and Folder B)