Gradual Reconnection and Relapse Plan: A Free Relapse Prevention Worksheet
Relapse Prevention · Practice-informed · Practice-informed
A relapse prevention sheet that names the underlying need the AI companion was meeting, such as to feel understood, safe or wanted, then builds a five-step reconnection ladder from easiest to hardest with a date for each step. It lists early warning signs, sets out what to do after a slip and records support contacts. A return to old patterns is treated as information rather than proof that nothing has worked. Perceived social support is the factor that partly explained the link between loneliness and chatbot dependence in a 2026 study of young adults, which is why widening human contact is the centre of the plan.
Underlying mechanism: Schema-Informed Needs Formulation with Graded Reconnection and Lapse Planning
What it helps with
- Naming the real need underneath the habit so it can be met in more sustainable ways.
- Widening human contact in graded steps at a pace the client can keep up.
- Planning for lapses before they happen, so a slip is met with compassion and a small next step rather than self-criticism.
- Keeping a booster session and a list of support people in view once the block of work ends.
How clinicians use it
- Use it in the final session and explore, in schema-informed terms, which unmet need the companion was meeting.
- Build the ladder with the client and agree a date for each step, moving up only when the step below feels manageable.
- Agree a booster session six to eight weeks later and encourage the client to share the plan with a trusted person.
Clinical Implementation Guide
- Ask what the companion was meeting for the client, in their own words.
- Build a ladder of five human-facing steps and give each a date.
- Write the early warning signs and the first move after a slip, and agree a booster session.
What the worksheet looks like
| Step | Example | By when |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (easiest) | Reply to a message from a friend within a day | This week |
| 2 | Suggest a short walk with one person | Next week |
| 3 | Join one regular group activity | In three weeks |
| 5 (hardest) | Tell a trusted person how much the companion has meant | In two months |
Clinical cautions
Do not push the client up the ladder faster than they can sustain. Where isolation is structural, for example illness, disability or caring responsibilities, adapt the steps so they are achievable. This sheet does not replace a crisis plan. This tool does not diagnose any condition and is not a substitute for individual face-to-face therapy or for emergency crisis support.
References
- Uğuz, Ö., Doğan, S., & Güngör, D. (2026). Loneliness and AI chatbot dependence in young adults: The mediating role of perceived social support. BMC Psychology, 14, 1184. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-04916-5
- Young, J. E., Klosko, J. S., & Weishaar, M. E. (2003). Schema Therapy: A Practitioner's Guide. Guilford Press.
Part of
The Loneliness Loop
Related worksheets
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