The Recipe for Relapse – CBT-Based Worksheet + Facilitator Notes

This printable resource helps clients understand and reflect on the formula for relapse:

Resentment + Self-Pity = Bad Decision

Relapse rarely happens “out of nowhere.” This activity breaks down the stages leading up to a bad decision and gives clients the chance to identify their own thought patterns, practice reframing negative thinking, and explore practical tools for breaking the cycle.

What’s included:

• A clear explanation of the relapse formula
• A relatable example scenario to illustrate how resentment and self-pity can lead to relapse
• Guided reflection table where clients write out their own triggers, resentments, self-pity thoughts, excuses, and bad decisions
• Reframing practice to build healthier alternative thoughts and choices
• Tools section with prompts for support systems, accountability, values, and coping skills
• Reflection questions including “What is your WHY?” to strengthen motivation in recovery
• Facilitator Notes with an intro script, a healthy alternative example, discussion prompts, and wrap-up suggestions for group leaders

This resource works well for:

• Substance use counseling and relapse prevention groups
• Individual CBT sessions focused on thought patterns and coping skills
• Psychoeducation on relapse warning signs
• Group discussions, treatment planning, or client homework

Format: PDF worksheet (1–2 pages) + Facilitator Notes (1 page), ready to print and use in session.

Help your clients see relapse in a new way — not as something random, but as a pattern they can recognize, interrupt, and change.