About This Worksheet
Relapse is one of the most common challenges in cannabis recovery, and it is far more manageable when clients have a concrete, personalized plan in place before cravings or high-risk situations arise. Research consistently shows that clients who actively develop a written relapse prevention plan have significantly better outcomes than those who rely on willpower alone.
This worksheet is designed to be completed collaboratively in session or as a structured homework assignment. It walks clients through identifying their personal triggers, building a coping toolkit, establishing a support network, and planning for the possibility of a slip — without shame or catastrophizing.
My Relapse Prevention Plan
A personal plan for maintaining change
My Reasons for Changing
Reminding yourself why you decided to make a change can be a powerful anchor during difficult moments. Be as specific as possible.
My top reasons for quitting or cutting back
My Triggers
Triggers are the situations, feelings, people, and physical states that create an urge to use. Knowing your triggers in advance gives you the power to plan around them.
Emotional Triggers
Examples: stress, anxiety, boredom, anger, loneliness, sadness, frustration, feeling overwhelmed
My emotional triggers
Social Triggers
Examples: friends who use, parties, peer pressure, social gatherings, dating situations
My social triggers
Environmental Triggers
Examples: specific locations, times of day, routines, driving a certain route, being at home alone
My environmental triggers
Physical Triggers
Examples: pain, insomnia, fatigue, headaches, muscle tension, nausea
My physical triggers
My Coping Strategies
Having a plan for what to do instead of using is essential. The more specific your strategies, the more effective they will be.
When I feel a craving, I will...
Instead of using, I can...
My Support Team
Recovery is easier with support. Identify people you can reach out to when things get tough.
| Name | Phone | When to call this person |
|---|---|---|
Warning Signs
Relapse rarely happens suddenly. There are usually warning signs — changes in thinking, feeling, or behavior — that appear days or weeks before actual use. Identifying these signs early gives you a chance to act before a craving takes hold.
Signs that I may be heading toward relapse
If I Slip
A slip does not erase your progress. It is not failure — it is information. Having a plan for how to respond to a slip can prevent it from becoming a full relapse.
My plan if I use again (this is not failure — it is information)
Therapist Notes: Using This Worksheet in Sessions
This worksheet works best when introduced after the client has expressed some commitment to change — typically in the preparation or action stage of the stages-of-change model. Here are some suggestions for incorporating it into your clinical work:
- Collaborative completion: Work through the worksheet together in session rather than simply assigning it as homework. Clients benefit from your reflections and prompts as they identify triggers and strategies.
- Revisit regularly: The relapse prevention plan is a living document. Revisit it every few sessions to update triggers, refine coping strategies, and celebrate progress.
- Normalize slips: The "If I Slip" section is intentionally framed without judgment. Emphasize that a single use episode is an opportunity for learning, not evidence of failure. Clients who have a plan for slips are significantly less likely to experience a full relapse.
- Pair with other resources: This worksheet pairs well with the Motivational Interviewing Guide (especially for clients still working through ambivalence) and the Session Handouts on cravings and sleep.
- Support team discussion: Many clients struggle to fill in the support team section. This itself is clinically useful — it may reveal isolation, shame, or a social network centered around cannabis use. Use it as a therapeutic conversation point.
Relapse prevention strategies based on cognitive-behavioral principles have demonstrated consistent efficacy in reducing cannabis use and maintaining treatment gains over time.
Marlatt GA, Donovan DM. Relapse Prevention: Maintenance Strategies in the Treatment of Addictive Behaviors. 2nd ed. Guilford Press; 2005.