Maintaining motivation in recovery worksheet

Having a strong motivation to stop using substances is associated with decreased likelihood of relapse. However, it’s essential to support clients in maintaining their motivation in recovery to achieve positive long-term outcomes. 

This article provides an overview of internal and external motivators of recovery, along with suggestions clients can explore using our motivation in recovery worksheet.

We’ve included a free downloadable motivation in recovery worksheet for adults to save to your electronic health record (EHR) and use in your practice.

The importance of motivation in recovery

In the early stages of change, motivational interviewing is a valuable strategy for increasing an individual’s readiness to change unhelpful patterns of substance use. This approach involves discussing the client’s concerns, invoking motivation, boosting confidence in their ability to change, and planning for change by identifying the steps necessary to achieve their recovery goals.

However, as with most chronic illnesses, substance use disorder has a 40% to 60% chance of relapse, depending on the type of use, treatment, and recovery support, highlighting the need for continued recovery-related efforts, such as maintaining motivation. 

Sustaining motivation, however, can be a challenge for some individuals in recovery. After completing a successful treatment program, individuals in recovery return to their lives. While they often rebuild a more fulfilling life without substances—returning to work, starting new relationships, and resolving the issues that led to their substance use—sometimes those life changes can lead to an increase in stress, which is a risk factor for relapse. 

Other risk factors include:

• Feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities

• A stressful job

• Relationship difficulties

• Ongoing legal or financial issues related to their substance use

• Euphoric recall

Additionally, people in recovery remain susceptible to relapse due to the impact of substance use on the brain’s reward center. 

Research shows that prolonged substance use makes the brain more resistant to dopamine, which is why people need to use increasing amounts of substances to have the same effect. However, this can also make other things less pleasurable. 

Neuroscience reveals that these effects persist even after a person enters recovery, though imaging studies show that the brain returns to a normal baseline after 14 months. While this is still a relatively new area of research, some studies show that exercise can enhance the brain’s recovery.  

How to maintain motivation in recovery

There are lots of ways to remind clients to reconnect with their motivation for recovery, including:

Connecting with their reason for recovery

Everyone has different internal and external motivators for recovery. Perhaps a person first entered recovery because they lost their job or experienced relationship difficulties. After a while, however, those initial motivations may change. Maybe a new motivation could be to maintain their quality of life, enjoy the benefits of their hard-won recovery, and nurture their healthy relationships. Whatever the reason, being transparent and connected to motivators can help in times of stress and help clients stay motivated.

Strengthen recovery supports

Attending meetings can become tiresome over time, especially when attending the same sessions with the same people. While there is a benefit to having regular connection to people who would notice if a participant wasn’t around, it can be helpful to reassess the benefit of recovery activities to ensure what they are doing is supportive and keeps them connected to their recovery. For instance, going to a newcomers meeting may provide a new perspective on what it was like trying to get sober, and motivation may include helping others.

Assess the benefits of recovery

Reviewing the quality of life improvements can be a helpful motivator for continued progress. These might include physical and mental health and well-being, social functioning, and family connection.

Acknowledge accomplishments

Recovery is a huge achievement. After the first few milestones, however, clients may not celebrate recovery birthdays or small victories. Acknowledging achievements can be a helpful way to remember their self-efficacy and commitment to recovery, and boost confidence. 

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How to use the motivation in recovery worksheet 

You can download and use the motivation in recovery worksheet for adults in several ways:

• Use the worksheet to provide psychoeducation about substance use disorder.

• Complete the “What does recovery mean to you?” activity worksheet collaboratively in session and give the client a copy to take home.

• Ask the client to reflect on the motivation in recovery worksheet for adults and complete the reflection questions between sessions and report their findings at their next therapy appointment. 

• Use the internal vs external motivation in recovery worksheet in group therapy sessions to encourage clients to share more about their motivators with other participants.

• Combine this worksheet with other substance use and recovery-related worksheets, including our substance use assessment form, relapse prevention worksheets, and money management in recovery worksheet. 

• Share the motivation in recovery worksheet for adults with coworkers.

• Use this worksheet to provide training to interns or supervisees on substance use disorder, relapse prevention, and the importance of maintaining motivation in recovery. 

Sources

• Guenzel, N., & McChargue, D. (2023). Addiction relapse prevention. StatPearls Publishing.

• Melemis, S. M. (2015). Relapse prevention and the five rules of recovery. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine.

• National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). Treatment and recovery. Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction.

• Ogilvie, L., & Carson, J. (2024). From relapse prevention to recovery protection: A positive perspective on recovery from substance use disorder. Journal of Substance Use.

• Recovery Research Institute. (n.d.). Relapse prevention (RP) (MBRP).

• Recovery Research Institute. (n.d.). The neuroscience of addiction recovery. 

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2024). About recovery.

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019). Enhancing motivation for change in substance use disorder treatment (Treatment Improvement Protocol [TIP] Series No. 35) – Chapter 1: A new look at motivation.

• Yazıcı, A. B., & Bardakçı, M. R. (2023). Factors associated with relapses in alcohol and substance use disorder. The Eurasian Journal of Medicine.

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