With the help of a live studio audience in various stages of substance abuse recovery, Dr. Hester walks you through the four steps of behavioral change, starting with setting reasonable goals for change (including cutting back or the “warm-turkey” approach), self-monitoring to see how deeply ingrained those old habits are, choosing rewards for incremental successes, and finally finding new behaviors to take the place of the old ones. Through lively discussion, role-playing, and group and individual exercises, you will learn how to successfully achieve long-term changes to even those bad habits you have felt stuck with for years or decades.

This video is part of the series 7 Skills for Addiction-Free Living, and is primarily geared towards people in recovery, as well as their family members and loved ones. It is also an excellent resource for educators and trainers in addiction counseling programs, as well as staff at recovery treatment centers. Therapists in private practice will want this in their library to lend to clients struggling with substance abuse.