The Veteran Supported Education Service Treatment Manual: VetSEd

Social Skills Training (SST)
SST was initially developed in the 1970‘s for individuals who needed help with
community integration, relationship development, and comfort in social situations.
(Bellack, 2004; Mueser & Bellack, 2007). Based on social learning principles, SST is not
discussion-based—rather, it focuses on practicing behavior. SST involves teaching
clients essential interpersonal skills by breaking complex behaviors down into simpler,
easier to understand components (Bellack, 2004; Mueser & Bellack, 2007). As a VetSEd
provider, work with your Veterans and teach them how to perform these simpler steps
through role-plays and, once the Veteran has mastered these simpler tasks, combine them
so that the Veteran can perform the desired, more complex behavior. SST can play an
important role in the day-to-day functioning of Veterans in recovery from mental illness,
substance abuse, and COD, especially as they engage in new experiences such as school.
Mutual Support 12-Step Groups
As you work with Veterans in VetSEd who are diagnosed with mental illness, substance
abuse, or COD, you might want to become acquainted with the philosophy and practice
of mutual support 12-step groups, if you are not already. Twelve-step groups are
fellowships of men and women who share perspectives on the negative consequences of
addictions. Twelve-step groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics
Anonymous (NA) and other Twelve-Step recovery programs (Gamblers Anonymous and
Nicotine Anonymous), constitute an evidence-based practice that has been an essential
component in recovery from substance use and other addictions for over fifty years.
Participants in the program help one another navigate the recovery process by providing
both a trusted roadmap and a companion—a sponsor. Participation is free of charge, and
the only criterion for membership is a commitment to stop a specific addictive behavior.
Different types of twelve-step groups (e.g., open meetings, step meetings, women-only
meetings) are held in cities and towns across the United States.
For more information about NA/AA and other 12-step groups please visit: Alcoholics
Anonymous http://www.aa.org/ and Narcotics Anonymous http://www.na.org/.
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