Self-Monitoring Diary — The Bruges Model

The client keeps a use diary between sessions, recording not only the facts of use but also the context — the situation, emotions, preceding thoughts, as well as the days without use or with less use. In the Bruges Model the diary is oriented toward discovering exceptions and patterns of success, not only toward monitoring the problem. It is a tool of inquiry, not of control.

Step-by-step guide

Introduce the diary as a tool of inquiry, not of control: "We want to study together what is happening"
Define what exactly to record: amount, situation, mood, exceptions
In the next session start with the diary: "What did you notice?"
Highlight patterns of success and patterns of risk
Use the diary data to refine the goal and the plan

When to use

With clients at the "Consultative" and "Expert" levels — do not assign to the uncommitted
When you need to understand the patterns triggering use
To track progress between sessions
On the move from setting the goals to realizing them

Key phrases

I would be interested if you noted things down — not for control, but so we can together see when it gets better.

What did you notice as you looked at the records? When was it easier?

Follow-up questions

On which days did you manage — how did you do that?

What did the situations have in common when it was harder?

What does the diary say about the patterns of your life?

Alternative phrasings

It can be recorded simply — just the date and a couple of words about how the day went

Note not only when you drank but also when you held — that matters more

Warnings

⚠️ Position it as inquiry, not as a task or reporting
⚠️ If the diary is not kept — do not criticize, inquire what got in the way (informative in itself)
⚠️ Do not turn it into a tool of shame and self-punishment

Source: De Shazer & Isebaert, 2003; Isebaert, 2016; NOVA, 2016