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Symptom Management and Relapse
Awareness
Welcome to the Connections &
Care counseling program. In this module, you will find new ideas, learning activities, and handouts to use when
talking with your clients about symptom management and relapse
awareness. Because there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to
meeting the education and support needs of people with
schizophrenia, flexibility is the hallmark of this program.
These materials can be used over a period of time to explore the
topic in depth.
Overview
By participating in this session, you will be able to help
clients:
- Understand factors that contribute to relapse
- Understand the importance of full treatment adherence (as
opposed to nonadherence or partial adherence) in preventing or
minimizing the risk for relapse
- Identify their own triggers and warning signs of relapse
- Create a wellness plan to reduce the chance of relapse
- Create a plan of action in case of relapse
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Tips for facilitating
this module
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Position relapse prevention as
important to the recovery process
Research has shown that not adhering to treatment significantly
increases the risk for relapse and hospitalization. Help clients to
understand adherence and relapse prevention in the context of
moving forward in the process of recovery.
Emphasize that clients can choose to
take an active role in wellness and relapse prevention
Even with treatment, schizophrenia is an illness characterized by
relapses and remissions. However, clients can greatly decrease the
risk for relapse by following their treatment plan closely. This
will give clients a feeling of control over their illness and a
sense of ownership over its management.
Point out that relapse triggers and
warning signs are unique for each person
Relapse triggers and warning signs are highly individual, but
research shows that clients can learn to accurately identify their
own warning signs. This awareness may help clients take a more
active role in the recovery process.
Above all, emphasize hope
 For a very long time, the word recovery had no part in our clinical vocabulary. Now, that
picture has changed dramatically. There has never been a time of
greater hope for people with schizophrenia. Base your facilitation
on this very real sense of hope. |
Using the
materials
The materials are designed to be flexible. Here are suggestions
for using them:
- Review the learning activities and handouts as you plan your
session
- Choose the activities, discussion questions, and/or handouts
that are appropriate for your clients’ needs, interests, and
abilities
- Use the handouts in ways that match your clients’
abilities. For example, use them for discussion ideas, read aloud
as a group before completing, hand to clients to complete, or
assign as homework
- Revisit the learning activities and handouts as often as needed
to cover the topic
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Icons
Look for these icons to help you choose activities to use with your
clients during individual or group sessions.
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Discussion
starters - Ask questions to introduce and spark your
clients’ interests in a topic. |
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Brainstorming -
Ask your clients to suggest possible solutions to a problem or a
situation. |
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Debate - Ask
your clients to engage in a debate, which helps them see all sides
of an issue. |
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Journal writing - Encourage your clients to write down their thoughts in a
journal. |
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Creative
expression - Invite your clients to explore and express
thoughts and feelings through art. |
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Icebreaker -
Ask clients for verbal responses to a topic question to help them
feel comfortable with sharing. |
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