Career Counseling for Clients with Addictive Behaviors In this paper, I will address some of the challenges present when working with clients who are in various stages of change with regard to career development and substance abuse. Using the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), I will present a hypothetical conversation between a career counselor and a patient dealing with drug addiction. The four principles of Motivational Interviewing will be represented in the clinical dialogue.
Transtheoretical Model The Transtheorectical Model was first introduced by Prochaska and DiClemente (1984) and it has become one of the most widely used and researched models in the field (Murphy, 2005). This paper is most concerned with the stages of change dimension and the six stages of precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination (Wood & Cato, 2012). Motivational …show more content…
Marissa is in the contemplation stage, she admits she has a problem but is ambivalent about making changes. She has entered counseling to get information and then make a decision about change. Resistance is one of the most difficult aspects of working with substance abuse clients and Marissa’s refusal to consider substance abuse treatment is common (Wood & Cato, 2012). It can be very tough and frustrating to work with someone who is self-defeating and sabotaging treatment. The MI technique approaches resistance from a different angle to make it a useful intervention towards change. Marissa’s substance use is getting in the way of her moving forward. She is unable to save money and unwilling to give up her current freedoms in favor of a full-time job. A career counselor working with addicted clients must develop a strong sense of how the substance use and work issues are
Transtheoretical Model The Transtheorectical Model was first introduced by Prochaska and DiClemente (1984) and it has become one of the most widely used and researched models in the field (Murphy, 2005). This paper is most concerned with the stages of change dimension and the six stages of precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination (Wood & Cato, 2012). Motivational …show more content…
Marissa is in the contemplation stage, she admits she has a problem but is ambivalent about making changes. She has entered counseling to get information and then make a decision about change. Resistance is one of the most difficult aspects of working with substance abuse clients and Marissa’s refusal to consider substance abuse treatment is common (Wood & Cato, 2012). It can be very tough and frustrating to work with someone who is self-defeating and sabotaging treatment. The MI technique approaches resistance from a different angle to make it a useful intervention towards change. Marissa’s substance use is getting in the way of her moving forward. She is unable to save money and unwilling to give up her current freedoms in favor of a full-time job. A career counselor working with addicted clients must develop a strong sense of how the substance use and work issues are