How to Use This Script

This script is designed to be read aloud during your coaching session. "You" sometimes addresses you as the coach and sometimes your loved one — just as it would in a natural conversation. Speak it in your own voice; paraphrase where it feels right. Sections in blockquotes are exercises to do together.

You: This week, we bring everything together. All the skills you've learned—mood tracking, communication, problem-solving—culminate in a single, powerful document: the relapse prevention plan. This is your shared roadmap to stability. It's not just a crisis plan; it's a wellness plan. It formalizes the relapse signature we identified in Week 3. It outlines specific, agreed-upon actions to take when those early warning signs appear. For example: 'If I am sleeping less than 5 hours for two consecutive nights, I will call my doctor, and my supporter will help me reduce my schedule.' This plan replaces guesswork with strategy. It clarifies everyone's role, reducing conflict and anxiety when symptoms emerge. Your role is not to create this plan in isolation. It is to be a co-author with your loved one, and a presenter of this plan to the entire treatment team. This document transforms you from a reactive family member into a proactive, integral part of the wellness team.

Nervous System Regulation Exercise: Bilateral Movement

You: "Let's get your body moving. Stand up and march in place — bring your right hand to your left knee, then your left hand to your right knee. Keep alternating."

You: "Let your arms swing naturally. Breathe normally. Continue for 2 to 3 minutes. Notice if you feel more present, less foggy."

Why this works: Cross-lateral movement activates both brain hemispheres simultaneously, promoting integration. It also generates proprioceptive input, helping your body locate itself in space — critical when someone feels disconnected.

You: "This is a great first move when someone is shut down and can't access breathing exercises. Movement often works when stillness doesn't."

Nervous System Regulation Exercise: Feet on Floor

You: "Here's the simplest grounding tool there is. Press both feet flat on the floor. Remove your shoes if you can."

You: "Feel the contact — the texture, the temperature. Imagine roots growing from the soles of your feet down into the earth. With each exhale, let your weight settle downward. Gravity is constant and reliable."

Why this works: Proprioceptive input through the feet sends grounding signals to the brainstem. The deliberate attention to gravity interrupts the 'floating' or 'unreal' quality of dissociation.

You: "You can do this anywhere — in a waiting room, during a difficult conversation. No one needs to know."

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