In dealing with addicted clients, it is crucial to consider the client's attitudes, intentions, and behaviours as these factors, are linked and pivotal in affecting change of the problem behaviours, which is the premise of the stages-of-change model (Miller, 2015). Furthermore, the stages-of-change model contends that change happens when the right combination of the procedure occurs at the right time. As such determining where the addicted client's level of change as well as determining the right intervention to apply is critical for the success of the client. The different stages of change are: (i) precontemplation - has little awareness of the alcoholic/drug problem, no intentions of changing, and resistant to change; (ii) contemplation
Alcohol Anonymous (AA) is a fellowship worldwide consisting of over one hundred thousand men and women who are alcoholics, banded together in solving a common problem and in helping fellow alcohol users in their recovery from alcoholism. A.A.'s twelve steps are considered a list of principles which are spiritual in their nature, and if practiced as a way of life by members, can help significantly in expelling a member’s obsession to drink, and enable a holistic awareness. Step one is when the member admits they are powerless over the use of alcohol, resulting in an unmanageable life. No one wants to admit defeat, but admitting powerlessness over alcohol is the first step in becoming liberated. Step two is having a belief that the almighty power can restore their sanity. Step three is making the decision to turn their will and life over in the protection of the almighty God, which is the key to willingness of change as noted by the Twelve Steps of recovery. Step four is...
It is imperative for a counselor to identify these qualities and know how to navigate an addict through these phases. Addiction has psychological, neurological, and spiritual elements that are important to understand in order to provide quality counseling. Psychologically, an individual suffering from addiction will often practice various methods of self-deception: denial & repression, rationalization, hiding, delaying tactics, breakdown, and collusion. Habits are formed in three stages. During stage one, a person learns that a specific behavior either provides pleasure or pain relief. Stage two is when a person actively seeks the effects of that behavior in everyday life, causing the formation of the habit. Finally, in stage three, a person is now dependent on the effect of the behavior and develops feelings of distress when the behavior and feeling are not easily
The definition of motivational interviewing (MI) has evolved and been refined since the first publications on its use as a way to deal with behaviour change. The technical therapeutic definition of motivational interviewing is a collaborative, and goal oriented method of communication with giving specific observation to the language of change. It is intended to reinforce an individual’s motivation for and development towards a particular objective by evoking and investigating the individual's own arguments for change (Miller & Rollnick, 2012). Motivational interviewing was created to enable clients to prepare for changing addictive behaviours like drug and alcohol abuse (Miller & Rollnick, 1991, 2002) and has been viable to lessen other harmful behaviours including tobacco, drugs, alcohol, gambling, treatment
In the beginning of this book the author talks about the value of understanding a person’s addiction. Sandor explains that a recovering addict’s understanding of their addiction is based on the experiences they had. Sandor states that “understanding requires a balance of knowledge (information) and being (experience).”(Sandor, 2009, p.7) Sandor goes on to explain that when it comes to the field of treatment of addiction, professionals rely on the information they were trained with that comes from textbooks, lectures and the interviews of patients. Sandor came to the realization that professionals have been “overthinking” the problem. For example, when I was younger my father took me to the swimming pool to learn how to swim. My father threw me in the water. He thought that if he threw me in I would 1) learn how to keep my head above water and 2) learn how to swim. My fear was drowning in the pool, so my father signed me up for swimming lessons. After a few months I overcame my fear of drowning and learned how to swim.
With the subject, the interview can take place in a warm and empathic atmosphere, without confrontation, requiring the active participation of the subject. An empathic therapeutic attitude allows the subject to express of difficulties, his feelings. I would try to perceive things through the patient's eyes, putting myself in his place to understand what he can feel. Thus, the person can feel appreciated and will be more willing to open and share their experiences, allowing the therapist to visualize his or her resources, weak points in the process of change and beliefs around Alcohol consumption. In a motivational therapeutic interview, I must not directly confront the person on his tendency to trivialize, even deny, his problems of alcohol. I must assume that the final decision of change belongs to the subject. The defensive arguments put forward by the question in the face of change are not
Substance abuse treatments are offered in a variety of ways. Some treatments can be done on an outpatient basis, while others may require a stay in a hospital or other facility. The two types of treatments are similar in nature. The main difference is that outpatient treatment is offered to those addicts that have circumstances or situations that will not allow them to get treatment in an inpatient rehabilitation program. Outpatient programs provide patients with more freedom of movement which allows them to maintain a regular commitment to family, work, and educational responsibilities. (Gifford, 2015). This service is also used for those that have already been a part of an inpatient rehabilitation program, yet still require some further support so they do not relapse. Both treatment types first seek to help the individual with their physical addiction and get them rehabilitated, and then focuses on the underlying causes of their addiction and help them deal with it to help prevent and avoid any relapse. Choosing which type of treatment is needed and which would best benefit the individual would need to be decided between the addict and their doctor or counselor. It is not a decision to be made lightly especially for those that need the extra care that an inpatient facility would
Silverman, K., Roll, J., & Higgins, S. (2008). Introduction to the Special Issue on the Behavior Analysis and Treatment of Drug Addiction. Journal of Applied behavior Analysis, 41(4), 471-480. Retrieved June 12, 2011, from the proquest.com.navigator-ship.passhe.edu database.
This experience helped me to recognize the internal struggle that a substance abuser faces on a continuous basis. In addition, I know that an individual can have a difficult time changing their behavior even when they have a strong desire to change; the smallest thing can cause a person to relapse.
Severe mood swings, violent rages, memory loss—each of these problems were a part of my family life during the past two or three years. These problems are the result of alcoholism. Recently, a member of my family realized his abuse of alcohol was a major problem to not only himself, but also to those around him. He would lose control of his temper and often would not even remember doing it the next day. Alcohol became a part of his daily life including work, home, and any other activities. His problem was that of a "hidden" and "high-society" alcoholism. When he was threatened with the loss of his job and the possibility of losing his family, this man knew it was time to get help. After he reached his lowest point, he took the first step towards recovery—admitting his problem.
Generally speaking, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) references substance dependence (in this case, alcohol) as a cluster of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms that shows that the person is continuing use of the substance even with adverse effects on the individual’s life. Specifically, for a person to be diagnosed with substance dependence they must show at least three of the following symptoms; tolerance, withdrawal, substance being taken in larger amounts of over a longer period of time than intended, an unsuccessful desire or effort to control the use of the substance, there is a great deal of time devoted to the drug, important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced due to the substance, and the individual continues use of the substance even with the knowledge that the substance is causing physical or psychological problems (APA, 2000).
“Motivational interviewing was introduced by Dr. William R. Miller in 1983, to help problem drinkers prepare for treatment and has been developed in collaboration with Dr. Stephen Rollnick. Motivational interviewing is a client centered directive method of communication for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by helping people to explore and work through ambivalence. (Miller &Rollnick,2002).” This definition simply means that motivational interviewing is a method that uses the techniques taught by Carl Rodgers, such as empathy, positive regard, and congruence all of which lead to a collaborative relationship between the counselor and the client. This supportive and collaborative relationship will enable the client to open up and have honest discussions with the counselor. Therefore, the counselor will be able to help the client recognize:
The ultimate intention of motivational interviewing and guided change talk is that it will result in a strong commitment to change for the client. There is a higher likelihood of behavioral changes actually occurring (Hettema, Steele, & Miller, 2005). Data from early research completed by Miller on MI with drinking showed how change talk can predict behavioral changes. Resistance is common in motivational interviewing. The data shows that the more than a clients resists changes and positive change talk, the more likely they are to continue with the behavior that needs to be changed, such as drinking, drug abuse, or criminal offending (Miller & Rose, 2009).
Wechsler, H., Nelson T., & Weitzman, E. (February 2000). From Knowledge to Action. Change [On-line], Available: www2.gasou.edu/library/ (Galileo)(EBSCOhost)(Search=Alcohol Abuse).
The world is constantly changing in many different ways. Whether it is technological or cultural change is present and inevitable. Organizations are not exempt from change. As a matter of fact, organizations have to change with the world and society in order to be successful. Organizations have to constantly incorporate change in order to have a competitive advantage and satisfy their customers. Organizations use change in order to learn and grow. However, change is not something that can happen in an organization overnight. It has to be thought through and planned. The General Model of Planned Change focuses on what processes are used by the organization to implement change. In the General Model of Planned Change, four steps are used in order to complete the process of change. Entering and Contracting, Diagnosing, Planning and Implementing, and Evaluating and Institutionalizing are the four steps used in order to complete the process of change in an organization. The diagnostic process is one of the most important activities in OD(Cummings, 2009, p. 30).
The concept of addiction, originated in the field of substance abuse, particularly the abuse of alcohol, and cocaine (Courtwright, 1982; Dickson, Derevenksy & Gupta, 2002; Musto, 1973). Researchers have been working in this area for well over a century (e.g., Crothers, 1893) and have produced a substantial body of theoretical models and empirical data (Rosenthal, 1992; Taber et al., 1987). Substance addictions are usually thought of as a perceived loss of control (Room, 2003, pp. 225 & 228), caused either by qualities of the addictive substance itself, or by some psychological desire or craving the substance inspires or takes advantage of.