Intervention Guideline

Goals:
Individuals will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the Observe, Orient, Decide, Act (OODA) Loop
concept and be able to apply the concepts to their recovery.
Critical thinking, decision making, and situation awareness will increase as a result of program
participation and will be measured using the program evaluation sheets.
Program Description:
This program will specifically focus on learning the OODA Loop concept and applying it to addiction
recovery. Utilizing the focus on situational awareness and observational skills from the OODA Loop and
employing those skills to navigate the external landscape as well as the internal emotional landscape.
Client Problems That May Be Addressed:
Impulsive thinking, trigger management/identification, harmful situation identification, sobriety
maintenance, emotional identification/management.
Staff Training and Requirements:
This program will be directed by a licensed TRS or MTRS who is also nationally certified. The facilitator
should also be trained in addiction recovery theory as well as possess a strong foundational knowledge of
the OODA Loop process.
Risk Management:
Appropriate patient ratio will be maintained as defined by the Brighton Recovery Center policies. The
Therapist will constantly monitor patients for significant changes in mood or emotional presentation. All
interpersonal dynamics will also be observed and a therapeutic milieu will be maintained by staff.
Outcomes:
Decrease in impulsive thinking and decision making
Increase in overall situational awareness including internal emotional states
Increased understanding of the importance of situational awareness with regards to recovery
Increased ability to recognize potentially dangers situations/people/emotions/etc
Developing a logical decision making framework for future use
Integration of the OODA Loop concepts in to everyday life
Program Evaluation:
Evaluating client progress notes and comparing standardized assessments given at admission and
discharge.
 Program Design and Objectives
Objectives:

Terminal Program Objective:

To increase situational awareness of the outside world as well as internal emotional landscape

Enabling Objective #1:

Demonstrate knowledge of OODA Loop concepts
Performance Measure:
Upon request patient will be able to identify the 4 parts of the OODA Loop process and
their meaning by the end of the program.

Enabling Objective #2:

Apply OODA Loop concepts to individual recovery

Performance Measure:
Patient will be able to verbally exercise the OODA Loop process to at least 3 hypothetical
triggering situations when asked by the Recreation Therapist by the end of the program.

Enabling Objective #3:

Employ OODA Loop process to identify internal emotional landscape for mood management.

Performance Measure:
Patient will use the OODA Loop process to identify and manage at least 3 emotionally triggering
situations and journal about the process to share with the Recreation Therapist.

Length and Duration:

This program is designed to be covered over three (3) one (1) hour sessions but will be referenced often
throughout the subsequent program sections. In order to maximize effectiveness each patient should
attend all three sessions as this is the foundation for future concepts; if a patient misses a session or
admits to Brighton Recovery Center mid program the information can be repeated.

Content and Process:

Specifics related to processing topics and content relating to program objectives are outlined in the
Content and Processing Sheets found in accompanying program material.
 Implementation Description
Population:

For the purpose of this semi-system design the population targeted is adult individuals with a history of
substance abuse. Related mental health diagnoses such as mood disorders, anxiety, depression, bi-polar,
etc. are also populations that would benefit from this program.

Participants must have the ability for abstract thought and be able to process metaphor while also
possessing the physical abilities to verbalize thoughts and contribute to the group. Ability to concentrate
on a task for at least 30 min is also important however adaptations can be made to the process sheet to
accommodate for time and/or focus deficits.

This design is meant to serve as a guide for implementation as such modifications may be made based on
assessed individual needs.

Facility Considerations:

Physical Space:

This activity can be facilitated in any open space with enough area for participants to feel comfortable.
Each activity will have guidelines for participation and those specifics will be outlined in the Intervention
Format pages.

Equipment Needs:

In general the equipment needs are access to the specific equipment stated in the Intervention Format
pages for each specific intervention. Storage for the necessary equipment will also be needed in the form
of a space dedicated to Recreation Therapy supplies. This area needs to be able to be locked for the safety
of patients as well as ensuring the proper usage of supplies. This minimizes the risk of injury, damage to
equipment or facility grounds, and enables only individuals with proper training to use equipment.

Staffing Needs:

The Recreation Therapy program as a whole will be implemented by a licensed and certified Therapeutic
Recreation Specialist with the assistance of program staff. Each staff member associated with the
Recreation Therapy program and all of its individual interventions will have gone through facility
trainings on unique population specifics and will be comfortable professionally with the population. Staff
will also need to be knowledgeable in the content being delivered as well as policies and guidelines of the
facility in order to offer support.
 Specific Intervention Format
Name of Activity:
OODA Loop Emotions Jenga

Population:

Residential adult substance abuse disorder patients

Age:
Adult (19 - +)

Group Size:
Any group size will work for this intervention

Setting Considerations:
Any space where all participants can sit while others are participating in the jenga portion. A table to set
the jenga objects on.

Purpose:

To expose participants to the OODA Loop concept and provide a concrete example of how the process
can be applied in everyday life.

Goals:
To increase overall psychological/emotional resilience to life stressors.

Supplies Needed:
Emotion handout, jenga set, emotion placement slips.
Intervention Description:
1. Opening:
i. Introduce the group to the objective being discussed, which is the OODA Loop
and emotions
ii. Invite each patient to state one emotion that he/she has felt throughout the day
2. Discuss OODA Loop:
a. Origins:
i. John Boyd; military strategist for the Air Force
ii. Developed for fighter pilots as a means to execute high speed aerial attack
maneuvers and turning defensive measures into offensive measures.
b. Parts of the OODA Loop:
i. Observe:
Seeing the parts of an evolving situation as simply pieces of a greater
puzzle.
Taking an objective view of objects and emerging information without
judgement or value.
Deductive Logic:
a. Taking large constructs and breaking them down
Inductive Logic:
a. Taking small details and building up larger constructs
ii. Orient:
Assigning meaning and value to observations
a. Meaning and value are derived from the perspective of a defined
outcome or desired objective.
Building a mental map of observation as they apply to objectives and
desired outcomes.
Developing hypothesis to be tested using the Simple Test logical test:
a. Playing a hypothesis through to test if desired outcome is
possible or if more information is needed.
b. Only if time allows for the testing of hypothesis
iii. Decide:
Choosing a hypothesis or course of action determined in Orient phase:
a. Relying on previous mental maps if available
iv. Act:
Taking the necessary actions decided on in the previous stage
v. Review:
If possible as soon after the action is taken.
Review process and outcome for completeness and if the action produced
the desired outcome.
Follows the OODA format but applied specifically to the actions taken in
reference to the situation.
Reinforces/build/augments mental models for faster actions in the future.
3. Discuss applications to daily living:
a. Physical Triggering Situations
i. Observe surroundings:
Objective look at situational and environmental specifics
Can be forecasted or used in the moment
ii. Orient to outcome:
What aspects are allies to desired outcome
 What aspects are detriments to desired outcome
Develop hypothesis based on observations
iii. Decide:
Chose from list of hypotheses developed in Orient phase
After playing situations through as much as possible
iv. Act:
Either directly if in the situation or proactive decisions if forecasting
v. Review:
As quickly after the situation as possible
b. Emotional Triggering Situations:
i. Same process but with a more inward focus on emotional landscape of a situation
or interaction.
4. Introduce/Implement Activity:
a. Emotion Jenga
i. Instruct one participant at a time to remove a single jenga block.
ii. Instruct the participant to vocally read and answer the emotion prompt placed
inside the block after removing it.
iii. Once the blocks collapse rearrange the jenga set and instruct the group to try
again.
b. Emotion Handout
i. Distribute emotion handouts to individuals in the group
ii. Instruct patients to complete the emotion handout
iii. Encourage patients to share insight
c. Review

5. Discuss with group

Special Considerations or Risks:
General policies for observing participants for signs of escalation or other disruptive behaviors, otherwise
no specific risks.

Possible Discussion Questions:

What does OODA stand for?

How does the OODA process apply to emotions?
How does the OODA process apply to recovery?
Individually how can you apply the OODA process to your life?

Possible Group or Individual Assignments:

Have participants keep an OODA Emotions Journal about the emotions felt throughout the day and
what was decided after feeling the emotion.
Modification or Adaptations:
Content can be simplified based off of cognitive abilities of participants

Sources:
Boyd, John R.: Destruction And Creation, 1976
When I feel

I tend to

Healthy Alternatives:
1.

2.

3.
Describe a time when you felt angry.

Describe a time when you felt disgusted.

Describe a time when you felt happy.

Describe a time when you felt depressed.

Describe a time when you felt frustrated.

Describe a time when you felt jealous.

Describe a time when you felt proud.

Describe a time when you felt caring.

Describe a time when you felt disappointed.

Describe a time when you felt guilty.

Describe a time when you felt bored.

Describe a time when you felt stupid.

Describe a time when you were grieving.

Describe a time when you felt paranoid.

Describe a time when you felt satisfied.

Describe a time when you felt suspicious.

Describe a time when you felt sad.

Describe a time when you felt surprised.

Describe a time when you felt determined.

Describe a time when you felt shy.

Describe a time when you felt curious.

Describe a time when you felt confused.

Describe a time when you felt withdrawn.

Describe what angry feels like to you.

Describe what disgust feels like to you.

Describe what happy feels like to you.

Describe what depression feels like to you.

Describe what frustration feels like to you.

Describe what jealousy feels like to you.

Describe what being proud feels like to you.

Describe what caring feels like to you.

Describe what guilt feels like to you.

Describe what boredom feels like to you.

Describe what stupidity feels like to you.

Describe what grief feels like to you.

Describe what paranoia feels like to you.

Describe what shy feels like to you.

Describe what curiosity feels like to you.

Describe what sadness feels like to you.

Describe what confusion feels like to you.

Describe what being surprised feels like to you.

Describe what withdrawing feels like to you.

Describe what determination feels like to you.

Describe a time when you felt ashamed.

Describe what being comfortable feels like to you.

Describe a time when you felt eager.

Describe what disgust feels like to you.

Describe a time when you felt inadequate.

Describe what being insecure feels like to you.

Describe a time when you felt irritated.

Describe what being lonely feels like to you.

Describe a time when you felt overwhelmed.

Describe what being scared feels like to you.

Describe a time when you felt trapped.

Describe what worthless feels like to you.

Describe a time when you felt embarrassed.

Describe what disappointment feels like to you.

Describe what being satisfied feels like to you.

Describe what embarrassment feels like to you.

Describe what being surprised feels like to you.

Describe what withdrawing feels like to you.