While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, there are several proven approaches that have shown promising results in treating alcoholism. Scoring lowest on the totem pole were educational lectures and films, general alcoholism counseling, and psychotherapy – three of the most commonly practiced means of treatment over the past several decades. These methods include brief intervention, social skills training, and motivational enhancement.
Brief Intervention
Brief intervention focuses on providing individuals with personalized feedback and encourages individuals to reflect on their behaviors and consider making positive changes in their relationship with alcohol.
Since this can be a preemptive technique that’s used to help reduce or prevent alcohol misuse, brief intervention typically shows better results because individuals are being informed of the risks of alcohol use prior to any campus or community alcohol-related offense. The length of the intervention is not what drives change, and being brief reduces resistance to the intervention.
Our courses specialize in giving brief, effective interventions that provide action steps for change. They are hyper-personalized for the learner, based on their personal habits and attitudes. Numerous studies have shown that interventions like these can lead to a reduction in alcohol consumption and related consequences.
Social Skills Training
Next, social skills training (a.k.a. the behavioral approach) has proven efficient because of its ability to be tailored specifically to the needs of individuals. It can include guidance in communication skills, problem-solving, decision-making, and managing interpersonal relationships. One of the challenges faced by individuals struggling with alcoholism is the inability to cope with social situations that may trigger their desire to drink. Social skills training aims to equip individuals with the necessary tools to navigate these situations effectively.
Motivational Enhancement
Finally, the third component is motivational enhancement. As an intervention approach, this technique helps individuals resolve their ambivalence about engaging in treatment and decreasing their substance use by using their own personalized feedback. This inspires people to make the change by increasing their engagement in the process. Stimulating discussion about personal substance use and eliciting self-motivational statements strengthen motivation and build a plan for change. Motivation is the number one predictor of change.
Our courses feature motivational interviewing, which is a goal-oriented, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. MI uses affirmations, reflection, open-ended questions,
and periodic, strategically placed summary statements.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcoholism, consider exploring these approaches under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional.