PHILADELPHIA: 2401 Pennsylvania Ave, Unit 1C52, Philadelphia, PA 19130       BALA: 2 Bala Plaza, Suite 13, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004

Jeremy Frank & Associates

Therapy for Addiction & Mental Health

The ASCENT Approach is a therapeutic framework for couples in recovery from substance use and drug and alcohol addiction.

The ASCENT Approach honors that addiction treatment cannot be one-size-fits-all. Further, it recognizes the need for both partners in a relationship to do the work.

The ASCENT Approach for Couples in Recovery

The ASCENT Approach, developed by Chantal Jauvin and Jeremy Frank, PhD, is an approach with practices for couples in recovery from addiction regardless of what stage they are in from active addiction to solid recovery.

See below for a brief description of the basic components of the approach. These follow excerpts from Jauvin’s book, Love Without Martinis.

Basic Components of This Approach

The ASCENT Approach consists of six individual practices. Each practice draws its name from a letter in the word ASCENT.

  1. Assess readiness to change: Here we identify areas of a couple’s  life needing change, determine how ready each member is to effect change and use the continuum of change to target priorities.
  2. Structure time: Organize discretionary time including planned flexible time. Predictability and accountability foster trust. Structuring time allows for healthy boundaries and the creation of opportunities to co-create a meaningful life together.
  3. Create community: Understand the groups of people who surround a couple. Navigate life with appropriate boundaries and connection to others. 
  4. Engage in life: Develop positive activities to foster well-being and togetherness.
  5. Nurture spirituality: Find ways to create and support  inner peace.
  6. Treasure partnership: Examine what qualities, behaviors and interactions couples cherish in their partner. Gratitude strengthens our bond and confirms that we are seen, heard, and appreciated by our partner.

For stories of couples in recovery from addiction and a more detailed discussion of The ASCENT Approach please see Chantal Jauvin’s book, Love Without Martinis. The book is available from most online book sellers, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.

Read More About The ASCENT Approach

JFA produced a series of articles on our blog that explore each component of The ASCENT Approach in greater detail. We encourage anyone interested in this approach to check out these articles to better understand the practices of the approach.