I'm Sober, Now What? addresses the clinical challenges individuals face after achieving initial sobriety and highlights the therapeutic work necessary to support long-term recovery. This presentation examines four core distractions that commonly undermine sustained sobriety and introduces strategies for helping clients cultivate emotional sobriety, meaning, and purpose in daily living. Participants will explore how values, integrity, and purpose (the V.I.P. model) can guide post-acute recovery and promote character development. The session further integrates concepts of healthy intimacy and sexuality, emphasizing their role in stabilizing recovery and reducing relapse risk. Through didactic instruction and experiential exercises, clinicians will learn practical, evidence-informed interventions to help clients strengthen emotional regulation, deepen connection, and build a fulfilling life beyond addiction.
https://frumtherapist.com/workshops/sobernow/viewI'm Sober, Now What?
Friday, May 08, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT - 12:00 PM EDT
Presenter: Allan J. Katz LPC
Course Length: 2 Hours
This workshop Offers 2 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits
I'm Sober, Now What? addresses the clinical challenges individuals face after achieving initial sobriety and highlights the therapeutic work necessary to support long-term recovery. This presentation examines four core distractions that commonly undermine sustained sobriety and introduces strategies for helping clients cultivate emotional sobriety, meaning, and purpose in daily living. Participants will explore how values, integrity, and purpose (the V.I.P. model) can guide post-acute recovery and promote character development. The session further integrates concepts of healthy intimacy and sexuality, emphasizing their role in stabilizing recovery and reducing relapse risk. Through didactic instruction and experiential exercises, clinicians will learn practical, evidence-informed interventions to help clients strengthen emotional regulation, deepen connection, and build a fulfilling life beyond addiction.
Understanding long-term recovery outcomes
Introducing the four major distractions that interfere with sobriety
Clarifying values-based recovery foundations
Emotional freedom vs. behavioral sobriety
Addressing shame, guilt, and unresolved trauma
Mindfulness-based emotional regulation strategies
Step Six: Readiness to remove character defects
Step Seven: Humility and transformation
Identifying character traits and healthy replacements
Purpose and integrity as spiritual practice
Samson Raphael Hirsch: Selfishness and character
Dr. Abraham Twerski's approach to spiritual growth
Distractions and solutions:
Technology → Mindfulness and attentional control
Work → Reframing identity: human being vs. human doing
Play → Healthy leisure as protection
Emotions → Managing impulsive emotional experiences
People → Reducing reactivity; cultivating safety and trust
Belief and decisiveness in recovery
Clinical approaches for integrating these components
Guided activity illustrating distraction vs. values-based living
Processing insights and therapeutic application
Unhealthy vs. healthy sexuality
The eight stages of intimacy
Integrating intimacy skills to sustain sobriety
Values
Integrity
Purpose
Applying V.I.P. to create a meaningful life post-sobriety