Table 3 Illustrative quotes for visualization reactions theme

General positive comments

[BT14]: “Just seeing the different graphs”

[BT11]: “I liked the visualization of the support system.”

[BT32]: “I enjoyed seeing the diagrams. It’s like the first time that I’ve seen any type of diagram system, so it was nice.”

Understandability

[BT11]: “I think it was helpful in the way that it kind of validated like I’m not alone and I do have a lot of people that I can depend on that…I don’t just have people in my life that I talk to constantly that aren’t there for me. I have people in my life I talk to that care about me. So that’s good to validate that.”

[BT12]: “It shows you the people that are connected with each other and know each other…the fact that it gets you out of your head and it’s more organized. It’s on paper and you can look at it a little more clearly. That’s a big plus”

[BT13]: “It made sense to me but it’s not really helpful…I believe everybody’s different, so a majority of people are visual learners. I believe it will help the majority of the people that come through.”

[BT31]: “I feel like the ones who support you are important, but I feel like the ones who are not supportive of you are important, as well; that should stick out more because you need to understand, like, why—if those people you can't be supported by them, then you have to realize within yourself why you need to let them go, if they're not going to support you—like how I said, if it's not beneficial for you, you shouldn't really have it…Maybe—because red is a very stick-out color, so red—I like that for support, but you also need to find another color that's bright and brings your eye up, to make you realize these people don't support you.”

New insights

[BT11]: “Seeing the interconnectedness of my interpersonal relationships, that was interesting…I have good groups of people in my life that are different but are equally reliable.”

[BT12]: “You can figure out your connections and your…the kind of people that you’re connected and trusted.”

[BT12]: “Being able to compare the relationships, not just with you and those people that you list, but with those people between them, too and how each person can affect you…helps you compare how you interact with certain people versus the people that are more supportive and whatnot.”

[BT14]: “I was able to actually see my relationships and how they are built, whether I can talk to people, whether I hang out with them and do substances and drinking with them.”

[BT14]: “Didn’t really think about that because I talk to these people every day, and then I saw it and I’m like I didn’t realize that they knew…that I’ve introduced them and they’ve talked before.”

[BT31]: “I liked the graphs…to make me realize and understand I have these people who support me, even though just saying it, seeing it is a whole different thing and knowing these are the people I have support and that they support me.”

[BT32]: “The showing of like your support groups and the people that may have an impact on you if they’re users and whatnot. That way you can see really—like actually put into visual who’s not helping you anymore and why your life is the way it is…It was just these are your circles and this is where the lines go. They might be chaotic but that’s because your life is, well, this is based off you, you know?”

[BT32]: “The diagram showed how many people are not there and how many people are maybe there.”

Triggering changes in social support

[BT11]: “That might give them the motivation they need to get someone in their life that they can rely on.”

[BT11]: “I could use that as a tool to reevaluate some relationships I have in my life.”

[BT12]: “I learned the difference between the people that are connected and motivated. And we reach out to each other…And I probably…I noticed the people that I wouldn’t hang out with, you know?”

[BT14]: “At the end you can see who’s been the constant, right there. And then decide…. you can see what you’re doing and how you can change it, who you’re hanging out with, who’s been somebody that you’re always in communication with.”

[BT14]: “It kind of made me realize that I need to build more connections…when I saw it was all connected it helped me because I was like I need to build better connections, more personal connections…Because if you do, either when they leave or you leave, you can keep in contact and you can just have somebody there always like that, who understands where you’re coming from and just helps you out.”

[BT32]: “The people that are outside sources are labeled even in the visuals as outside sources…that way you can see like if you need help, you can reach out to these outside sources.”

[BT32]: (Q: Do you think seeing the diagrams will help people turn to support more?) “I would imagine so. That was my thought process when I saw it all…as I was seeing it visually, I was like, yeah, I would turn to these people more often than these other people.”

[BT32]: (Q: Do you think seeing the diagrams will help people change their social networks?) “If they’re openminded with their representation of what works and what doesn’t, you know, just based off their diagram alone might help them redesign their social networking structure. Maybe.”

Triggering changes in AOD use

[BT12]: (Q: Do you think seeing the diagrams will help residents change their drinking?): “Because (they) pretty much…guide you… Showed you…the people that you don’t have healthy relationships with.”

[BT14]: “It shows you who you’re most likely to drink with versus who you’re most likely not to, so you’re going to be like, okay, I’m not going to hang out with person, he’s having drinks. So limit or set boundaries for myself and for them.”

[BT32]: (Q: Do you think seeing the diagrams will help residents change their drinking?): “Possibly…Because the way that it’s formatted makes you really think about things. But at the same time, if the person isn’t really willing and does the session, it could go either way.”