Facilitator Guide 4: Emotional Stages of Recovery

Use the Emotional Stages When:

• A group member has intense feelings such as confusion, anger, grief, etc.

Why the Emotional Stages Are Important:

• To normalize overwhelmingly intense or painful feelings in order to help the person determine what they need and how to get it

Steps

1. Use the direct strategy to move the person to the Emotional Stages Chart on the wall.

   “Let’s take a moment to look at the Emotional Stages Chart.”

2. Describe the chart.

   “This chart describes a series of emotional reactions to the trauma of mental illness that are absolutely normal and predictable. Since our experiences may be cyclical, we can fluctuate among the stages as things change.”

3. Ask the person to identify where he or she is on the chart and to talk about that briefly.

   “Where do you think you are on the chart?”

4. Ask the group members about their needs.

   “Where you are on the chart may help determine what you need. Can someone tell me what they needed when they were in this same stage?”

5. Ask the individual about his or her needs.

   “What need can the group help you with right now?”

6. Ask the group how this individual might get this need met by coming up with concrete, practical resources that will help the person right now.

   “What do we know that would help _____ to meet this need?”