Co-occurring Disorders Treatment Manual

This manual was created over a period of several months through the efforts of a working group comprised of substance abuse treatment practitioners and researchers affiliated with the Tampa PIC/Suncoast Practice and Research Collaborative project. The manual was field tested in several treatment agencies in the Tampa Bay area, and was then refined through feedback received by practitioners and clients regarding the manual’s utility, ease of comprehension, and perceived relevance of the material to their needs. This manual provides a guide for conducting treatment groups related to co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. Counselors should feel free to adapt the modules (e.g., format, information, and exercises) to the particular needs of their groups. In some settings, groups are shorter in length and may necessitate that modules be split in two or condensed. In other settings, groups are longer and may allow for coverage of two modules in a single session. The manual is designed to provide an interactive approach to addressing co-occurring disorders. Counselors should familiarize themselves with the material in each module in advance of group sessions, and use the manual as a foundation for organizing the sessions, rather than reading material verbatim to their clients