Taking the Escalator

10/09/2025

Internship Opportunity – Marketing Support for Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Website

Part-Time | Remote | Portfolio-Building Experience

I’m looking for a marketing or communications student (or recent grad) ready to gain hands-on digital marketing experience with an established mental health and addiction recovery platform.

About Me:
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and addiction counselor (LCADC) with 30+ years of experience, and I run TakingTheEscalator.com, a nationally recognized resource for therapists, group facilitators, and people in recovery. Our site recently transitioned to a paid membership model, and I’m looking to expand engagement, grow digital reach, and add creative energy to the team.

What You’ll Gain:
Real-world experience and mentorship in a meaningful niche
Flexible 5–8 hour/week schedule
Portfolio-ready work with visible results
Potential commission or paid role for the right candidate

Who I Am Looking For:
Strong writer and communicator
Comfortable with social media strategy and content marketing
Interested or experienced in video editing and short-form clips
Self-motivated, reliable, and eager to learn
Interested in mental health, recovery, or social impact

Sample Projects:
Creating and scheduling posts for LinkedIn, Facebook, and Pinterest
Editing and repurposing video content for social media
Assisting with newsletters or email campaigns
Modernizing or repackaging existing content

If you’re a student seeking credit or a recent grad building your portfolio, let’s connect. This is a chance to do meaningful work that helps people while building skills that employers value.

📩 Message me on LinkedIn or email [email protected] to get started.

10/07/2025

Free Therapeutic Resource for Group Sessions - Simple Self-Assessment 1–3: Progress

This new worksheet from Taking The Escalator is designed to help clients reflect on where they are in the recovery and change process across key life areas — including motivation, relationships, mental health, relapse prevention, and self-care.

The format is structured, yet user-friendly:

✔ Three-choice self-assessments that promote honesty and insight

✔ A 1–10 “Progress Meter” to gauge overall direction

✔ Open-ended questions that drive meaningful group discussion

✔ Ideal for early and middle-stage recovery groups

Download the worksheet free at:

👉 https://www.takingtheescalator.com/post/free-worksheet-simple-self-assessment-1-3-progress

For members: There’s also a second bonus worksheet available that focuses on group cohesion and rapport-building. Members can log in to access both tools.

Looking for an easy, honest way to get your group members reflecting and talking? The Simple Self-Assessment 1–3 worksheet is a free tool designed to help participants check in with themselves — without pressure or perfection.This practical, discussion-friendly activity walks through five key ar...

09/30/2025

🌟 New Worksheet & Blog Post: Mixed Emotions 🌟

We’ve all had those moments where two feelings collide—joy mixed with sadness, fear tangled with excitement, or calm layered with frustration. Life rarely delivers emotions one at a time, and learning to identify, express, and cope with mixed emotions can be a powerful part of growth and recovery.

I just released a new worksheet, Mixed Emotions, along with a companion blog post. This tool is designed to:

Spark meaningful conversations in groups or individual sessions

Build emotional awareness and insight

Encourage creativity and self-reflection in exploring how feelings overlap

What I love about this one is that it’s fun and engaging on the surface—but it can also open the door to some very deep, valuable discussions.

🔗 Check it out here: https://www.takingtheescalator.com/post/mixed-emotions-understanding-the-complexity-of-our-feelings

“Emotions are not a puzzle to be solved—they are a landscape to explore.”Have you ever felt happy and anxious at the same time? Or maybe excited yet scared about a new opportunity? These are examples of what psychologists call mixed emotions—experiencing two or more feelings simultaneously. ...

09/23/2025

Culture shapes who our clients are in ways we often don’t realize.

Beliefs, habits, traditions, and lived experiences all influence identity, coping strategies, and how people relate to the world around them.

🧠 Our newest worksheet, "The Culture Within: Exploring Identity and Life Impact," is designed to help clients reflect on their unique cultural makeup—and how it affects their strengths, risk factors, support systems, and daily choices.

✅ Use it in:

• Group therapy sessions
• Individual counseling
• Psychoeducational settings

Great for supporting cultural humility, trauma-informed work, and person-centered care.
👉 Includes a free icebreaker and an extended version that breaks down key aspects of cultural identity—available to Taking the Escalator site members.

🔗 Download it here:
https://www.takingtheescalator.com/post/the-culture-within-exploring-identity-and-life-impact

“Culture is the thread that weaves our past, present, and choices together and understanding it is about connection, empathy, and honoring the stories we carry.”Culture is often thought of as something we see on the outside—our race, ethnicity, language, or country of origin. But the reality i...

09/16/2025

🧠 New worksheet

“Healing the Brain After Addiction”

How recovery rewires the brain
Tools to support brain healing
Bonus icebreaker included!

✅ Free Version Available
🌟 Upgraded Version for Members

A Group Therapy Worksheet on Neuroplasticity, Craving Triggers, and Rewiring the Brain for RecoveryAddiction doesn’t just affect behavior—it changes the brain. Over time, substance use reshapes how the brain processes stress, reward, decision-making, and even everyday emotions. That’s why reco...

09/09/2025

👽 New Resource Alert: Alien Interview – A Journey into Human Insight

Our latest worksheet invites participants to explore thoughts, behaviors, and emotions through the eyes of curious aliens who know nothing about humans. This unique approach encourages self-reflection, insight, and personal growth—perfect for group or individual sessions.

Click to preview: https://www.takingtheescalator.com/post/alien-interview-a-journey-into-human-insight

Taking the Escalator PREMIUM MEMBERS can also access our new Premium Video page, featuring weekly releases designed to enhance clinical practice:

Empower your clients—and your team—with actionable, evidence-based strategies.

Ever wondered what your life looks like through the eyes of someone—or something—completely unfamiliar with human behavior? That’s exactly what the Alien Interview worksheet lets you do.This exercise is both amusing and surprisingly powerful. You’ll imagine being interviewed by curious alien...

09/02/2025

New Blog + Worksheet: Tolerating Discomfort – A New Way Forward

Anxiety. Panic. OCD. Health anxiety. These challenges are real—and often misunderstood.

We just released a blog article with a fresh look at tolerating discomfort as a therapeutic skill. This post includes:

🎥 Exclusive member-only video

> A ready-to-use group therapy worksheet

> Practical strategies to apply in clinical or group settings

Help your clients move from avoidance to acceptance, one step at a time. This content is designed for therapists, group leaders, and individuals working through co-occurring issues.

Read it now and access tools for your next session:

Beyond the "Quick Fix" for Anxiety, Panic, and OCDWe’ve all been there—heart racing, chest tight, mind spiraling. Anxiety feels like something we need to escape immediately. And for many of us, especially those in recovery or dealing with co-occurring mental health challenges, discomfort isn’t...

08/26/2025

New Resource Drop: Awkward Moments Happen – But That’s Not the End of the Story

We’ve all had those moments—saying the wrong thing, getting caught in an embarrassing situation, or reacting in a way we later regret. In recovery and treatment, these awkward moments can feel magnified... but they can also be turning points for growth, insight, and connection.

Our latest blog article explores this idea and includes two powerful group therapy tools:

FREE Worksheet: “Awkward” - This engaging, story-driven activity helps clients share awkward experiences, laugh together, and build trust in a group setting. Great for opening sessions and fostering connection.

MEMBERS-ONLY Worksheet: “Awkward Moments – Moving Forward with Resilience” - A deeper dive into coping skills, emotional regulation, and building resilience—tailored for those in recovery.

Both worksheets were created for mental health and addiction professionals working in group settings, IOP, or individual sessions.

🔗 Get the free worksheet and read the full article here:

We’ve all been there—an autocorrect fail, an unexpected noise in a silent room, or that moment when you wave enthusiastically at a stranger who wasn’t waving at you. These awkward moments are part of being human. But in recovery, they can feel amplified. A simple slip-up might trigger self-dou...

08/19/2025

How can therapists and group facilitators help clients navigate stress and emotional triggers? By fostering mindful self-awareness. Our newest article provides actionable tools for noticing thoughts and feelings without judgment and practicing reflective responses. Perfect for group therapy exercises, these strategies promote emotional regulation, healthier choices, and stronger interpersonal skills.

"Self-awareness is the first step toward self-improvement." Life can be unpredictable. Sometimes bad things happen because of injustice, the actions of others, problems in the world, or simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. These are external factors that may be in a large part beyond o...

08/13/2025

New Resource: Validation – The Value of Understanding

When people feel understood, they open up.

When they feel dismissed, they shut down.

Our new group therapy material explores the skills behind validation—listening deeply, acknowledging perspectives, and building connection.

Stronger relationships. Less conflict. Healthier decisions. Learn more and put these skills to work today.

“You are not required to set yourself on fire to keep others warm.” – AnonymousValidation is the act of recognizing and acknowledging someone’s feelings, thoughts, or behaviors as understandable, and meaningful. It does not need to involve always agreeing with a person’s perspective but ra...

08/05/2025

New Resource: Obstacles and Opportunities
Recovery isn’t about avoiding obstacles—it’s about developing the mindset and tools to face them. This new worksheet helps group participants explore real-life challenges and discover opportunities for growth.
✅ Obstacle & Opportunity Cards
✅ Insight-based reflection prompts
✅ Ideal for IOP and outpatient settings
Full worksheet available to Taking the Escalator site members, with a free preview available for all visitors.

Introduction: Everyone faces obstacles, but when we’re trying to recover and change, those obstacles can feel staggering and sometimes even impossible. At times it’s fear. Other times, it’s a lack of support, low motivation, not enough confidence, or simply feeling overwhelmed. The truth is: o...

07/29/2025

New Group Activity: Now Hiring… Your Future Self

Clients fill out a mock job application for a more balanced life—highlighting strengths, goals, and growth areas. It’s creative, flexible, and always starts great conversations.

Taking the Escalator Members can download the full worksheet and guide. -

Now Hiring: My Future Self (A Recovery-Focused Group Therapy Activity)Help your clients apply to "get hired" for the life they truly wantAt Taking the Escalator, we’re always looking for creative, engaging ways to help clients reflect, connect, and grow. Our newest group activity puts a playful tw...