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Helping Men Recover: A Program for Treating Addiction (HMR)

Topic Areas
Scientific Rating
Child Welfare Relevance
Substance Abuse Treatment (Adult)
NR  — Not able to be Rated
Medium

About This Program

Target Population: Men with substance use disorders

Program Overview

Helping Men Recover (HMR) is a gender-responsive, trauma-informed treatment program for men. The materials include a facilitator’s guide and a participant’s workbook. This is the men’s version of the women’s curriculum, Helping Women Recover, which is highlighted on the CEBC as part of a combined Helping Women Recover & Beyond Trauma (HWR/BT) intervention. HMR addresses what is often missing in prevailing treatment modes: a clear understanding of the impact of male socialization on the recovery process, a consideration of the relational needs of men, a healthy exploration of sex and sexuality, investigation of concepts of power, and a focus on the issues of abuse and trauma (both experienced and perpetrated). The Helping Men Recover Facilitator’s Guide for the 18-session program is a step-by-step manual containing the theory, structure, and content needed for running groups. The participant’s workbook allows men to process and record the therapeutic experience. The program model is organized into four modules that emphasize the core areas of men’s recovery: Self, Relationships, Sexuality, and Spirituality. The materials are designed to be user-friendly and self-instructive. There is a community version and a criminal justice version of the materials; neither of these versions has been reviewed by the CEBC.

Program Goals

The overall goals of Helping Men Recover (HMR) are:

  • Decrease in substance misuse
  • Increase in acknowledgement of trauma (both experienced and perpetrated)
  • Decrease in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Decrease in other trauma symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety)
  • Increase in self-efficacy
  • Increase in emotional regulation and expression
  • Stabilize recovery

Logic Model

The program representative did not provide information about a Logic Model for Helping Men Recover: A Program for Treating Addiction (HMR).

Essential Components

The essential components of Helping Men Recover (HMR) include:

  • Four modules with specific topic areas for each of the 18 sessions (there is also a self-administered recovery scale for each module):
    • Module A - Self (5 sessions with a total of 11 activities):
      • Session 1: Defining Self
      • Session 2: Men in Recovery
      • Session 3: Sense of Self
      • Session 4: Men: Inside & Out
      • Session 5: Men and Feelings
    • Module B - Relationships (6 sessions with a total of 14 activities):
      • Session 6: Family of Origin
      • Session 7: Barriers to Relationships
      • Session 8: Fathers
      • Session 9: Mothers
      • Session 10: Creating Healthy Relationships and Support Systems
      • Session 11: Effective Communication & Intimacy
    • Module C - Sexuality (4 sessions with a total of 11 activities):
      • Session 12: Sexuality and Addiction
      • Session 13: Sexual Identity
      • Session 14: Barriers to Sexual Health
      • Session 15: Healthy Sexuality
    • Module D - Spirituality (3 sessions with a total of 11 activities):
      • Session 16: What is Spirituality?
      • Session 17: Real Men
      • Session 18: Creating a Vision
  • Helping Men Recover is designed to be a group intervention with one facilitator and 6-12 men per group. The exercises can also be used in individual work.

Program Delivery

Adult Services

Helping Men Recover: A Program for Treating Addiction (HMR) directly provides services to adults (regardless of whether they are parents or caregivers) and addresses the following:

  • Substance misuse, interpersonal violence, depression, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation

Recommended Intensity:

One or two 2-hour sessions per week

Recommended Duration:

18 sessions – approximately 2-5 months

Delivery Settings

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

  • Outpatient Clinic
  • Community-based Agency / Organization / Provider
  • Group or Residential Care
  • Justice Setting (Juvenile Detention, Jail, Prison, Courtroom, etc.)
  • Shelter (Domestic Violence, Homeless, etc.)

Homework

Helping Men Recover: A Program for Treating Addiction (HMR) includes a homework component:

Men have a journal to process their group experience and practice skills.

Resources Needed to Run Program

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

  • Facilitator's guide
  • Flip chart
  • Workbooks
  • Room with chairs in a circle
  • A group facilitator
  • Art supplies for collage work

Manuals and Training

Prerequisite/Minimum Provider Qualifications

Licensed addiction counselor with experience in the field and leading with groups or a bachelor's degree in a human services field are the standard qualifications. It can be used with peer facilitation as well.

Manual Information

There is a manual that describes how to deliver this program.

Program Manual(s)

Program Manual Information:

  • Covington. S., Griffin, D., and Dauer, R. (2011). Helping Men Recover: A program for treating addiction. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The facilitator guide and workbooks can be purchased online, please contact kim@stephaniecovington.com or go to www.stephaniecovington.com and select “Bookstore.”

Training Information

There is training available for this program.

Training Contacts:
Training Type/Location:

Training can be provided onsite or virtually. There are also trainings available at various sites in California and other parts of the U.S.

For more information see, www.stephaniecovington.com and www.centerforgenderandjustice.org and www.dangriffin.com

Number of days/hours:

Generally, 2–3 days onsite or 4–5 days (4 hours per day) virtually

Additional Resources:

There currently are additional qualified resources for training:

Please contact the Training Contact above for a list of certified trainers.

Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research

Currently, there are no published, peer-reviewed research studies for Helping Men Recover: A Program for Treating Addiction (HMR).

Additional References

Anderson L., & Griffin, D. (2008, April 1). Treating the whole man. Addiction Professional. https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/addiction/article/treating-whole-man

Griffin, D., & Dauer, R. (2012, August 3). Rethinking men and codependency. Addiction Professional. https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/addiction/article/rethinking-men-and-codependency

Waters, N., Cochran, N., Lee, C., & Holt, K. (2016, September). Miami-Date County Adult Drug Court: Trauma study report. National Center for State Courts. https://ncsc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/spcts/id/306/

Contact Information

Stephanie S. Covington, PhD, LCSW
Agency/Affiliation: Center for Gender and Justice
Website: stephaniecovington.com
Email:
Phone: (858) 454-8528
Fax: (858) 454-8598
Dan Griffin, MA
Agency/Affiliation: Griffin Recovery Enterprises, Inc
Website: www.dangriffin.com
Email:
Phone: (424) 254-9946

Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed by CEBC: January 2024

Date Program Content Last Reviewed by Program Staff: August 2021

Date Program Originally Loaded onto CEBC: June 2012