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The Underrated Superhero Tools for Substance Use Counselors

The Underrated Superhero

Resources
for Clinicians

Slip vs. Relapse Assessment Quick Reference

Quick Overview

The court doesn’t differentiate between a slip and a relapse. You have to. This tool exists because new counselors often default to one of two extremes — over-reporting every instance of use because they’re afraid of getting in trouble, or under-reporting because they don’t want to damage the relationship. Both responses come from fear, not clinical reasoning. This quick reference gives you a structured way to assess what you’re actually dealing with, check your own bias before you act, and make a reporting decision you can defend in supervision. Print it double-sided and keep it in your desk for the moments when you need to think clearly and don’t have time to second-guess yourself.
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Resource Details

Format

PDF
Category
Clinician Guides, Free Resource Center, Mandated Clients / Criminal Justice
Best for
Addiction counselors — especially newer clinicians — who are working with justice-involved clients and feel uncertain about where the line is between a slip and a relapse, and what that distinction means for court reporting. This tool is particularly useful for counselors who have experienced that moment of panic when a client tests positive and they aren’t sure whether to pick up the phone or sit with it clinically first. It’s also a strong supervision tool — clinical supervisors can use the assessment questions and reporting framework to walk supervisees through real cases and build their confidence in making these judgment calls independently.

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Other Resources

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