Intervention Strategies
Alcoholics often have a difficult time acknowledging, understanding, believing or admitting there is a problem. In the scenario 12 video, “Alcoholic in Denial” this person is no different. The therapist uses several strategies to portray a need for Tonya to change. This is initially done through motivational interviewing. During the beginning of the interview the therapist asks open and closed ended questions to better understand the client’s situation and why she is seeking help. Understanding Tonya’s situation creates a pathway to provide the motivation for change. Motivating a client to change that truly does not see a problem in their life can be difficult. In the motivational interview the assessment is completed by clarifying the understanding of the problem and making suggestions for change. (James &Gilliland 2013). There are six stages in the motivation to change; Precontemplation, Contemplation, Determination/Preparation, Action, Maintenance and Termination. In the Precontemplation stage the individual cannot see that they have a problem. They have no way of understanding the need of change and continue to partake in the detrimental behavior. Contemplation is the next step and now the client can recognize there is a problem and entertains the thought but nothing more. When a person is in denial, it is critical for the therapist to convince the client in denial to go from Precontemplation (no problem) to contemplation (recognizing a problem). In order to get Tonya to move to the next stage, the therapist clarifies the household problems occurring that are a byproduct of her drinking. Once the problem has been clarified, the therapist makes an initial recommendation for action based on her assessment. In this case, the therapist suggests that Tonya participates in three Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A) classes in the next week. The therapist then strengthens the thought of action with a very simple, but affective question,...