056 -SNAP-T Using Temperament to Develop Effective, Individualized Relapse Prevention Plans

Happiness Isn’t Brain Surgery
SNAP-T: Strengths, Needs, Attitudes, Preferences & Temperament
Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSM, LMHC, NCC
Executive Director, AllCEUs
Host, Counselor Toolbox
President, Recovery and Resilience International

CEs can be earned for this presentation at:  https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/574/c/
Objectives
–    Explore the concept of SNAP-T
–    Review the different learning styles
–    Identify the characteristics of each dimension of temperament
–    Discuss the levels of Maslow’s heirarchy
–    Identify other characteristics which may yield specialized needs.

SNAP
–    Strengths
–    Needs (Accommodations)
–    Attitudes
–    Preferences (learning style, temperament)

Strengths
–    Things the client is good at… (transferability)
–    How the client…
–    Learns best
–    Has coped in the past
–    What gives the client hope
–    What the client already knows about
–    The condition
–    Recovery methods
–    What does and does not work for him/her
Needs
–    Emotional
–    Happiness
–    Contentment/Efficacy
–    Mental/Cognitive
–    Learning preferences
–    Learning needs to understand the condition and interventions
–    Physical
–    Assistive devices
–    Frequent breaks
–    Medications
Needs
–    Social
–    Friendships
–    Understanding of healthy relationships
–    Environmental
–    Safety
–    Temperature
–    Comfort
–    Time of Day
–    Transportation
–    Child Care
Learning Styles Review
–    How you best take in information
–    Auditory
–    Kinesthetic
–    Visual
–    How you process information
–    Active
–    Reflective
–    Conceptualization
–    Sequential
–    Global

Attitudes
–    Self
–    Others
–    The Condition/Target Issue
–    Willingness to learn and try new things
–    Interventions/Recovery
I will not call myself an addict every day
I will not go to “those meetings”
Everybody relapses
I have to have Suboxone to achieve recovery
Decisional Balance
Preferences
–    People’s temperament impacts their Strengths, Needs, Attitudes and Preferences
–    Temperament is:
–    Comprised of 4 dimensions
–    Environment and Energy
–    Mental Conceptualization
–    Motivation and Meaning
–    Time Management and Structure
–    An overarching concept that is on a continuum.
–    One end of the continuum is not better than the other, it is just different.
–    Most people are somewhere in the middle, having characteristics of both “ends”

Application
–    Improving Communication
–    Increasing Motivation
–    Effective Interventions
–    Relapse Prevention Planning

Temperament
Extrovert
–    Are expansive and less passionate
–    Are generally easy to get to know
–    Like meeting new people, have many close friends
–    Would rather figure things out while they are talking
–    Often enjoy background noise such as TV or radio
–    Know what is going on around them rather than inside them
–    Often do not mind interruptions
–    Are often considered good talkers

Introvert
–    Are intense and passionate
–    Generally more difficult to get to know
–    Exert effort to meet new people
–    Have only a few close friends
–    Figure things out before they talk
–    Prefer peace and quiet
–    Are more likely to know what is going on inside them than what is going on around them
–    Dislike being interrupted
–    Are often good listeners

Temperament
Sensing
–    Are practical and realistic
–    Prefer facts and live in the real world
–    Content in general
–    Would rather do than think
–    Focus on practical, concrete problems
–    See the details and may ignore the big picture
–    Want specifics and tend to be very literal
–    May think that those preferring intuition are impractical
–    Believe “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it”
iNtuitive
–    Are imaginative dreamers
–    Prefer abstraction, inspiration, insights
–    Live in the world of possibilities
–    Would rather think than do
–    Focus on complicated abstract problems
–    See the big picture but miss the details
–    Love word games
–    May think that those preferring the practical lack vision
–    Believe anything can be improved
–    Focus on the future and possibilities

Temperament
Thinking
–    Like words such as principles, justice, standards or analysis
–    Respond most easily to people’s thoughts
–    Want to apply objective principles
–    Value objectivity above sentiment
–    Can assess logical consequences
–    Believe it is more important to be just than merciful
–    Assess reality with a true/false lens
–    May think that those who are sentimental take things too personally
–    May argue both sides of an issue for mental stimulation

Feeling
–    Like words such as care, compassion, mercy, intimacy, harmony, devotion
–    Respond most easily to people’s values
–    Want to apply values and ethics from multiple perspectives
–    Value sentiment above objectivity
–    Good at assessing the human impact
–    Believe it is more important to be caring/merciful
–    Assess reality with a good/bad lens
–    Think that those preferring objectivity are insensitive
–    Prefer a to agree with those around them

Temperament
Judging
–    Plan ahead
–    Self disciplined and purposeful
–    Thrive on order
–    Get things done early. Plan ahead & work steadily.
–    Define and work within limits
–    Maybe hasty in making decisions
–    Time and deadline oriented
–    Thinks those preferring spontaneity are too unpredictable
–    Excellent planners. May not appreciate or make use of things which are not planned or expected
Perceiving
–    Adapt as they go
–    Flexible and tolerant
–    Thrive on spontaneity
–    Get things done at the last minute depending on spurt of energy
–    Want more information
–    May fail to make decisions
–    Always think there’s plenty of time
–    Think that those who are not spontaneous are too rigid
–    Good at handling unplanned events, but may not make affective choices among the possibilities.

Apply It
Client with depression and a history of addiction wants to “stay in recovery”
–    What do you need to know about his:
–    Strengths?
–    Needs
–    Attitudes
–    Preferences
Summary
–    Treatment involves helping people learn  what is causing their distress and tools to manage it.
–    Effective change involves helping people
–    Maximize their strengths
–    Consider their needs and motivations
–    Address their attitudes
–    Work in harmony with their own preferences
–    As a coach or clinician, it is important to pay attention to the potential pitfalls of your treatment or discharge plan based on the person’s SNAP-T