January
"fresh start; same mission"
Welcome to the new year. Whether you're nursing a post-holiday exhaustion hangover or fired up with fresh energy, these resources are here to help you start strong—without burning out by February.
📌 Note: All downloadable resources from The Underrated Superhero require at least a free account to access. Create your free account →
💡 January Tip
Your calendar has more—trends to watch, clinical insights, and key dates for the month. Get the Winter 2026 Quarterly Kit →
Planning Your Year?
The Clinician CEO Planner 2026 pairs perfectly with your goal-setting worksheet — monthly spreads, session blocks, and quarterly reflections designed for therapists. Download free (digital) | Physical coming soon!
✅ January Reset Checklist
Quick wins to start the year grounded. Check off what you've done (or what you'll do this week).
💡 Tip: Screenshot this list or bookmark this page. Come back at the end of the month to see your progress.
📅 January Awareness Dates
Click any card to see related resources.
National Mentoring Month
Find a mentor, be a mentor, or just reach out to someone whose work you admire.
🔗 External Resources
Mentoring and Addiction Counselor – Improving Care and Leaving a Legacy ↗ NAADAC Mentorship Resources ↗💡 Quick Tips
- Finding a Mentor: Look within your agency first—supervisors, senior counselors, or clinicians whose style you admire. Don't be afraid to ask.
- Professional Organizations: NAADAC, your state certification board, and local counselor associations often have mentorship programs or can connect you.
- Being a Mentor: Even if you're new, someone is newer. You don't need 20 years of experience to help someone navigate their first month.
📚 Related Resources in the Library
National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month
Review trafficking red flags with your team. Know your local reporting resources.
🔗 External Resources
Supporting Individuals at the Intersection of Human Trafficking and Substance Use ↗ Polaris Project Resources ↗ National Human Trafficking Hotline ↗💡 Why This Matters in SUD Treatment
Trafficking and substance use are often intertwined—substances may be used as control mechanisms, or individuals may use substances to cope with trauma. Being able to recognize signs and know your reporting obligations is essential.
Dry January Begins
Expect clients questioning their drinking. Meet ambivalence with curiosity, not pressure.
🔗 External Resources
How to Rethink Your Relationship with Alcohol After Dry January ↗ Alcohol Change UK Dry January Toolkit ↗🛒 Tools for Your Clients
January is prime relapse territory. These tools help clients stay grounded:
💡 Supporting Clients Through Dry January
- Normalize ambivalence. "I'm not sure I have a problem" is a valid starting point, not resistance.
- Explore motivation. Why now? Health? A specific incident? Pressure from others? Understanding their "why" shapes the conversation.
- Avoid the abstinence trap. Not everyone doing Dry January needs long-term sobriety — and that's okay to acknowledge.
- Prepare for February. What's the plan when the month ends? This is where real work often begins.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Reflect on equity in treatment access. Who in your community is underserved?
🔗 External Resources
SAMHSA Behavioral Health Equity Resources ↗💡 Questions for Reflection
- Who in my community has the least access to quality SUD treatment?
- Are there barriers at my agency that disproportionately affect certain populations?
- How can I advocate for more equitable practices in my role?
- What assumptions or biases might I bring to my clinical work?
National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week
Great time for psychoeducation materials, especially with adolescent clients or school partnerships.
🛒 Tools for Psychoeducation
Make Facts Week interactive with these group-friendly tools:
💡 Ways to Use This Week
- Partner with local schools for brief presentations or Q&A sessions
- Share evidence-based facts on social media (counter the myths)
- Use NIDA's free materials in group sessions
- Host a "facts vs. myths" discussion with adolescent clients
National Change a Pet's Life Day
Pet loss or pet care struggles can be significant for clients. Don't overlook it in assessment.
🔗 External Resources
Human-Animal Bond Research Institute ↗💡 Why This Matters
- Pet loss is real grief. Don't minimize it. For some clients, a pet is their most stable relationship.
- Pet care as motivation. "I have to stay sober for my dog" is a valid and powerful motivator.
- Barriers to treatment. Some clients won't go to residential because they can't bring their pet or find care.
- Assessment prompt: "Do you have any pets? How are they doing?" can open unexpected doors.
Personalize Your Calendar
Your quarterly kit includes stickers for dates that matter to you—client milestones, personal reminders, or trigger dates to watch. Make it yours.
New Clinician Goal-Setting Worksheet
This two-page worksheet helps new addiction counselors set realistic, meaningful goals at the start of the year — or any time they need a reset. Instead of vague resolutions that fade by February, it guides clinicians through three focused areas: clinical skills development, professional growth, and sustainability. Each section includes reflection prompts and space to identify one actionable step, making goal-setting practical rather than overwhelming. A built-in check-in prompt at the end encourages revisiting progress before the month ends.
Best for: New clinicians in their first two years who want to set intentional goals without overcomplicating things. Also useful for clinicians returning from a break, starting a new position, or feeling stuck and needing a reset.
Access ResourceClient Emergency Contact Update
This two-page template makes it easy to do a quick post-holiday check-in on client emergency contacts — something that often gets overlooked but can make a critical difference in a crisis. It includes a suggested script for introducing the conversation, fields for primary and secondary contacts, and a crisis resources review section to confirm clients have current information for 988, local crisis lines, and personal support contacts. The clinician notes section at the end provides space to flag any concerns or follow-up needed.
Best for: Addiction counselors who want a simple, structured way to update client safety information after the holidays — when support systems often shift due to family conflicts, breakups, or moves.
Access Resource
