Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Addictive Behaviors (MBRP)

What you’ll find inside MBRP

Created and designed by specialists in the field of addiction and mindfulness, this 8-week group program teaches you recovery skills and practices that you can begin to use right away in your daily life to prevent relapse.

MBRP seeks to remove the stigma of shame or blame that can be associated with experiencing urges, cravings, or relapse. This is harm reduction approach where compassion and care are deeply rooted in the recovery process.

Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention was developed at the Addictive Behaviors Research Center at the University of Washington by G. Alan Marlatt and colleagues in 2010 to help people in their recovery from addictive behaviors.

For more details and evidence-based research, click here.

Achieve recovery through 3 integrative methods

  • Core Meditations

    Learn the practice of Urge Surfing, one of several powerful meditation practices specifically for relapse prevention and Surfing, used as a metaphor for riding the waves of urges and craving without engaging in reactive behavior.

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy

    Learn how to shift out of automatic conditioned, negative, or challenging thoughts and behaviors and develop a new relationship with thoughts and behaviors that prevents relapse.

  • Mindfulness

    Learn mindfulness practices designed to heighten awareness of and shift the relationship to all experiences both internal and external promoting a greater sense of choice, compassion and freedom.

  • Learn a brief history of MBRP and a short review of the research. Go over the schedule and how to the features on zoom. Establish a framework for working together. Answer any questions. Tuesday, September 19, 2023 | 6–8pm EST

  • Explore the relationship among automatic pilot reactivity, mindful awareness, and relapse. Tuesday, September 26, 2023 | 6–8pm EST

  • Explore how to recognize triggers through body sensations, thoughts and emotions that accompany urges and cravings and lead to reactive behavior. Tuesday, October 3, 2023 | 6–8pm EST

  • Learn how to use a mindfulness practice called SOBER Space as a way to learn how to ‘be with’ all the challenges connected to urges and cravings without acting in a harmful way. Tuesday, October 10, 2023 | 6–8pm EST

  • Learn how to stay present in challenging situations that have previously been associated with substance use or other reactive behaviors. Tuesday, October 17, 2023 | 6–8pm EST

  • Investigating the paradox that only by accepting what we want to avoid or deny, can it actually change. Learning to take skillful action in both high-risk and normal life situations. Tuesday, October 24, 2023 | 6–8pm EST

  • Using awareness to recognize thoughts as thoughts versus assuming they are accurate reflections of the truth and look at the role thoughts play in the relapse cycle. Tuesday, October 31, 2023 | 6–8pm EST

  • Identifying personal warning signs for relapse and how to best response when these warning signs arise. Tuesday, November 7, 2023 | 6–8pm EST

  • Review the skills and practices learned in this program and discuss the importance of building a support system. Tuesday, November 14, 2023 | 6–8pm EST

  • An opportunity to step away from the demands of everyday life for an extended time (3-6 hours) in a retreat like structure to deepen your practice. Full guidance will be given and discussed in the group prior to this retreat day.

    Please note: the Retreat occurs after Week 5, Sunday, October 29, 2023 | 9:30–4:00pm.

The program

By the end of this program, you will…

  • Know the factors that put you at risk for relapse.

  • Have the skills to navigate through high-risk situations.

  • Understand the importance of well-being and how to promote it in your life.

  • Have access to mindful awareness and meditation practices to support you in your ability to respond accordingly when triggers, urges and cravings arise.

  • Know which activities nourish you, so you can take care of yourself and remain in a state of balance—preventing relapse.

  • See the broad picture of your life and identify what supports your health and vitality vs. what puts you and others at risk.

  • Strengthen your ability to tolerate discomfort through the ups and downs of everyday life.

  • Have lifetime access to 9 guided meditations and worksheets specifically designed for this program, plus additional meditations and resources.

  • Have 22 hours of highly experiential and participatory live zoom training.

I’m ready to light up my life!

The Next Program BeGINs September 19th!

  • Orientation: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 | 6–7:30pm EST

    Weeks 1–8: Tuesdays, 6–8pm EST
    September 26, October 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31, November 7 and 14, 2023

    Retreat Day: Sunday, October 29, 2023 | 9:30–3pm

  • All classes are live and virtual via Zoom.

  • $699

Live | Virtual | Zoom

In out of the way places of the heart
Where your thoughts never think to wander, This beginning has been quietly forming. Waiting until you were ready to emerge.

—JOhn O’donohue