Removing barriers Essay Example for Free

Removing barriers Essay In a setting where the client is not there by choice, one of the major problems associated with substance abuse treatment is the client’s resistance. Generally, the techniques aimed at overcoming denial and resistance in such a setting can be grouped into two broad categories, namely confrontational and non-confrontational techniques. Confrontational techniques usually encompass intense treatment in order to break the client’s defenses and full abstinence from illegal substances (Sciacca, 1997). Non-confrontational techniques stimulate the client to accept his or her problems and cooperate with the counselor. Motivational interviewing is one of the most vivid examples of this approach. Instead on focusing on punitive measures and inadmissibility of relapse, motivational interviewing calls upon the client to engage into introspective activities and generate awareness of his or her addiction and attendant problems. This approach might be preferable to the first one since addicts tend to posses very strong ego-defense mechanisms (Sciacca, 1997). Motivational interviewing implies the development of trust between the client and counselor as well as empathy towards and acceptance of the client’s value system. Instead of being punitive and judgmental, the counselor should be tolerant and understanding. The counselor should be also able to send a message of hope and belief to the client (Sciacca, 1997). Another effective non-confrontational approach is client-centered therapy. The engine of change, as this philosophy argues, is the client’s self-realization and self-motivation. This is a non-directive approach to therapy that limits the role of the counselor to a listener and adviser rather than guide and enforcer. Thus, it is possible to conclude that non-confrontational techniques are more effective in involuntary treatment of substance addiction. References Sciacca, K. (1997). Removing barriers: dual diagnosis interviewing. Professional Counselor 12(1): 41-6.