The role of the “interaction log” therapeutic instrument in rehabilitation programs for individuals with addiction

Abstract

This article examines the experience of implementing and operating the therapeutic instrument, the "Infraction Log," in rehabilitation centers for individuals with addictions. The instrument is an integral component of an internal disciplinary-therapeutic system designed to foster responsibility, honesty, and self-reflection among residents. The purpose of this article is to determine the influence of the "Infraction Log" therapeutic instrument on the dynamics of group atmosphere and behavioral patterns of individuals undergoing rehabilitation, and to substantiate the efficacy of its use in working with individuals with addiction.

To achieve this objective, a combination of methods was employed: a systematic analysis of scholarly publications concerning the theory-practice gap in rehabilitation; the description, substantiation, and structuring of the proprietary therapeutic instrument; and an exploratory study conducted in four rehabilitation centers within the "Restart+" network. The study utilized surveying, in-depth interviewing, observation of group dynamics, and analysis of log entries over a three-month period. The applied methodology is grounded in the principles of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Social Therapy, and Systemic Group Dynamics.

The findings indicate that the instrument promotes the development of responsibility, honesty, and transparency in a portion of the residents, yet simultaneously elicits resistance from those who persist in destructive thinking patterns.

It is concluded that the "Infraction Log" is an effective sociotherapeutic instrument that successfully integrates disciplinary, educational, and psycho-correctional functions. Its successful implementation facilitates the development of key personal qualities essential for sustained recovery: self-reflection, honesty, maturity, and the capacity for consequence acceptance. A prerequisite for its efficacy is high-quality staff training to ensure a balance between demand and compassion, thereby guaranteeing that the instrument functions as a "group mirror" rather than a mechanism of pressure. Future research will focus on an expanded quantitative analysis of the instrument's influence on relapse frequency.