Implementation of a Wellness Exploration Group for Women with Substance Use Disorder

Abstract

Individuals with substance use disorders are heavily impacted in participation and performance of their daily activities due to the neurobiology, occupational deprivation, and occupational balance barriers. In the theory of addiction as occupation, individuals with substance use disorder are more likely to relapse if their addiction is not recognized as an occupation (Wasmuth et al., 2014). When addiction is removed from their daily routines an occupational deprivation is created and must be addressed for success in recovery (Wasmuth et al., 2014). The capstone student implemented a wellness exploration group focused on meeting adult female residents at a recovery house where they were at with their recovery process. Wellness exploration groups concentrated on resident-identified leisure, social participation, and self-care activities on a weekly basis. The intent of group meetings was to improve quality of life, well-being, and occupational balance while also addressing occupational deprivation with occupational replacement of healthy lifestyle activities. Outcome data was collected through a survey composed with the PROMIS database. The survey was administered before group implementation and after group implementation in aggregate. The results of this project indicated an improvement in quality of life, well-being, and occupational balance through survey dissemination and verbal comments. This further demonstrated the important role that occupational therapy can play in treatment for substance use disorder.