Codependency Unpacked Lesson Plan Codependency Unpacked
Group Lesson Plan (Tier 2)
60 Minutes
WHY THIS MATTERS
Codependency can impede recovery by fostering unhealthy relational patterns. This lesson empowers adult SUD clients to recognize codependent behaviors and cultivate autonomy and balanced relationships, supporting long-term sobriety.
OBJECTIVE
Participants will identify signs of codependency, understand associated risks, and practice setting healthy boundaries through interactive discussion, role-play, and reflective worksheets.
Details
Audience
Adult SUD Group
Approach
Interactive, Experiential, & Reflective
PREPARATION
Read through handouts and prompt sets
Print Icebreaker Cards (cut into individual cards)
Print Overview Handout (one per person)
Print Roleplay Guide & Assessment Worksheet
Arrange seating in pairs or small circles
Ensure a private, confidential environment
SESSION FLOW
Warm Up: Icebreaker
10 min
Distribute cards. Participants answer prompts aloud (e.g., "Describe a time you helped at your own expense"). Segment into common themes of over-helping.
Reading: Overview Handout
10 min
Hand out the overview. Silent reading followed by clarification of key terms: codependency, enabling, and boundaries.
Guided Group Discussion
10 min
Explore personal patterns. Ask: "How might these patterns affect your recovery?" Record common insights on a whiteboard.
Experiential: Boundary Roleplay
15 min
Pairs use Roleplay Guide. Swap roles after 5 mins. Debrief what language felt effective versus challenging.
Individual Assessment
10 min
Complete the Self-Assessment. Volunteers share insights. Reinforce that self-awareness is the start of change.
Cool Down: Action Commitment
5 min
Complete Reflection Prompt Sheet. Identify one specific boundary to practice this week. Summarize takeaways.
Required Handouts
Icebreaker Prompt Cards
Codependency Overview
Boundary Roleplay Guide
Self-Assessment Worksheet
Reflection Prompt Sheet
Icebreaker Prompt Cards Icebreaker Prompt Cards
Cut along the dashed lines. Distribute to group members for the warm-up activity.
Describe a time you helped someone even though it wasn’t good for you.
Recall an instance when you felt guilty for saying no to a request.
Share an example of putting someone else’s needs before your own.
When did you last agree to something you didn’t want to do? Why?
Tell about a time you felt responsible for someone else’s feelings.
Describe a moment you let someone down because you couldn’t set a boundary.
Share an experience of enabling someone’s behavior.
Think of a time you felt drained after trying to support someone; what happened?
© Codependency Unpacked Workshop • Peer Support Tool
Codependency Overview Handout Codependency Overview
Building Healthier Relationships in Recovery
Codependency describes a pattern of behavior in which one person excessively puts another’s needs before their own, often at the cost of their well-being. In recovery from substance use disorders (SUD), these behaviors can become a cycle that undermines personal growth and autonomy.
What Is It?
Prioritizing someone else’s happiness or comfort over your own needs.
Feeling responsible for another person’s feelings, choices, or actions.
Struggling to set or maintain healthy limits when asked for help.
Common Signs
People-pleasing:
Difficulty saying “no,” even when requests feel unreasonable.
Caretaker role:
Believing you must solve someone else’s problems to feel valued.
Poor boundaries:
Feeling guilty for asserting your own limits.
Control issues:
Trying to manage another’s choices to avoid conflict.
Enabling vs. Supporting
Enabling
Maintains harmful behavior. Example: Paying bills for a loved one to prevent negative consequences of their use.
Supporting
Encourages responsibility. Example: Holding someone accountable while offering encouragement for treatment.
Healthy Boundaries
Effective boundaries are:
Clear: Specific limits you can name.Consistent: Applied reliably every time.Respectful: Firm yet empathetic.
Why It Matters
In SUD recovery, codependency can reinforce unhealthy dynamics, undermine personal responsibility, and create stress that increases relapse risk.
"Awareness is the first step toward change. Which pattern resonates most with your experience?"
Codependency Group Discussion Guide Group Discussion Guide
Codependency Unpacked
Name: ___________________________
Date: ___________________________
Discussion Guidelines
Honor confidentiality; what’s shared stays here.
Speak from your own experience using “I” statements.
Listen respectfully; allow others to finish.
Be honest; there are no right or wrong answers.
1. Recognizing Codependent Patterns
What patterns of codependency have you noticed in your own life? Refer to the handout for signs.
Follow-up: What emotions come up when you see these patterns?
2. Impact on Your Recovery
How have these codependent behaviors affected your recovery journey so far? Describe a specific incident where a boundary changed your path.
3. Enabling vs. Supporting
How do you distinguish enabling from supporting in your relationships? Why might it be hard to move from enabling to genuine support?
4. Boundary-Setting Strategies
Which boundary phrases feel most authentic to you? What challenges do you anticipate when you practice these in real life?
Closing Reflection
Write one specific boundary you commit to practicing this week and why it matters to you.
Boundary-Setting Roleplay Guide Boundary-Setting Roleplay
Practicing Clear and Respectful Limits
Time: 15 Minutes
Purpose
Practice using clear, respectful language to set and maintain boundaries in common codependent scenarios encountered during recovery.
Instructions
Form pairs: Helper (setting boundary) and Requestor (making request).
Choose a scenario from the list below.
Spend 3–5 minutes role-playing. Aim for clarity and empathy.
Swap roles and repeat.
Choose a Scenario
Scenario 1: Money
"Can you lend me money for rent again this month? I promise I’ll pay you back next week."
Scenario 2: Housing
"I’m not doing well without a place to stay. You have space—can I move back in for a bit?"
Scenario 3: Work
"My project deadline moved up. You’re always so fast—can you finish my part by tomorrow?"
Scenario 4: Anxiety
"I need you to text me every hour so I know you’re okay. I can't relax unless I hear from you."
Sample Boundary Phrases
“I understand you’re in a tough spot, and I can’t commit to [request] right now.”
“I care about you, but I need to protect my own well-being by saying no.”
“My boundary is that I will not [behavior], because it impacts my recovery.”
“Let’s find another way I can support you that doesn’t compromise my limits.”
Debrief Questions
Which phrase felt most authentic or easy to say?
Where did you feel resistance or guilt when setting a boundary?
How did the requestor respond? What helped the message land?
Tip: Boundary-setting gets easier with practice. Notice what worked and continue refining your language.
Codependency Self-Assessment Worksheet Self-Assessment
Codependency Patterns
Name: ___________________________
Date: ___________________________
Instructions:
For each statement below, circle the number that best describes how often it applies to you: 1 (Never) to 5 (Always) .
Statement Frequency 1. I feel responsible for fixing others’ problems. 1 2 3 4 5 2. I have difficulty saying “no” to requests, even when I don’t want to. 1 2 3 4 5 3. I feel guilty when I put my own needs or feelings first. 1 2 3 4 5 4. I worry about others’ emotions more than my own. 1 2 3 4 5 5. I make excuses for someone else’s harmful or unhealthy behavior. 1 2 3 4 5 6. I agree to things I don’t want to do to avoid conflict or disappointment. 1 2 3 4 5 7. I find myself “rescuing” people instead of letting them learn from consequences. 1 2 3 4 5 8. I feel anxious or upset if I can’t help someone who is struggling. 1 2 3 4 5 9. I believe my worth depends on how much I do for others. 1 2 3 4 5 10. I struggle to set or enforce limits with people close to me. 1 2 3 4 5
Reflection
1. Which statements scored the highest for you? What patterns do these scores suggest?
2. How have these behaviors shown up in your relationships or recovery journey?
3. Identify one specific boundary you will practice this week to challenge a tendency. Why does it matter?
Reflection Prompt Sheet Cool Down & Commitment
Reflection Prompt Sheet
Reflect on your growth and plan your next steps toward healthier boundaries.
1 One specific boundary I will practice this week:
2 Why this boundary matters for my recovery:
3 Potential challenges and strategies to overcome them:
4 How I will seek support:
5 A self-care action for this week:
6 One key insight I want to remember from today:
Ongoing support is available. Revisit your Assessment Worksheet and Roleplay Guide as needed.
Thank you for your commitment to growth and balanced relationships!
