Creating Compliance

About the Book

What makes this material unique is that the coping tools are analogy based. Using analogies is a great way of tapping knowledge and understanding that is an already existing foundation for learning. This is particularly useful since many of the symptoms of mental illness impair client's ability to process new material and information. Analogies are also useful when it comes to the rationalization and intellectualization accompanying addiction. They leave very little wiggle room!

This workbook is divided in to three parts. Part I introduces The Wellness Recipe, a simple structured approach to wellness, and how it can be used to challenge clients to take and active role in their treatment and thus creating compliance. Part II focuses on the main components needed to establish a wellness foundation: medication, structure, and sobriety. Cars, trains, maps, quicksand and a lock and key are the analogies here that help get the job done! Part III focuses on additional components of The Wellness Recipe: coping skills (including managing anger, stress, symptoms, and emotions), communication, acceptance, self-esteem, and leisure. Analogies used here: laundry cyclones, umbrella, tractor-trailer trucks, and jumper cables! Although the activities are presented in a sequence that builds on the foundation of The Wellness Recipe, they can be used in any order. Facilitator's guidelines are presented for group activities.

About the Author

Carol L. Rickard, LCSW, CTRS has spent the last 15 years working in the mental health field at both inpatient and partial hospital settings. She has created her material in the course of helping countless individuals rebuild and reclaim their lives from mental illness. Her passion is teaching coping skills and empowering individuals with the "tools" necessary for creating health and wellness in their lives.

She has presented her work at conferences across the Mid-Atlantic region including: NASW-NJ State Conference - "Coping Skills: A Key Intervention in the Treatment of Mood Disorders", Mid-Eastern Symposium on TR - "The Wellness Model", Temple University TR and Mental Health Class - "Coping Strategies for Mood Disorders", NYSTRA Conference - "Amazing Analogies! Coping Skills that Help Us Live Well", NJ/PA ATRA Conference - "The Wellness Tool - A New Approach to Wellness", Scheduled for May '06: Mid-Eastern Symposium on TR - "The Power of Words! Communicating Effectively". She is author of Lifeskills Made Simple! - Copyright 1998.