When working with AOD clients,Motivational Interviewing (MI) isoften used or used in conjunctionwith other approaches. According toMI it is important to both recogniseand acknowledge the role that...

With the rise of development there arose a wide array of undesired co-morbidities . Yes co- morbidity may be the right word owing to the long term complications alcohol and other related drugs have on an individual's life. Substance abuse is not something new , it has continued from time immemorial and excerpts have also been quoted from the Bible . With advancing technology and cut throat competition the use of these substances have become common since these provide a temporary escape from their problems. But all things come with a cost and so these drugs. Once addicted it is difficult for an AOD ( Alcohol and other drugs ) client to get rid of addiction . It requires a great degree of self control and constant support from family peers . The withdrawal symptoms make it more difficult to de- addict. Since these AOD have a long risk of complications in the long run – affecting not only the individual but his family and social life as well, it is important to get such individuals counselled and de-addicted . The following article covers various aspects of Motivational Interviewing used along with Cognitive behaviour Therapy to counsel and rehabilitate such patients.
Motivational Interviewing was first described by Professor William R. Miller in an issue of Behavioural Psychotherapy in 1983 . It is a type of counselling approach, motivating clients to change their destructive behaviour . The AOD clients come under three different categories. The first category includes the clients who are overpowered by addiction such that they find no need of quitting. The second category includes most of the clients where in they know the adverse effects of substance use and want to quit but are unable to do so. The third category includes those clients which have once quit substance abuse but are now finding difficulty in continuing. The first category ones are perhaps the most difficult to counsel . The foremost principle of Motivational Interviewing is acknowledging the history of client and what role the substance has played in his/her life . For instance at what age he started using substance and was it merely out of curiosity or the circumstances forced him to do so. If the circumstances are now resolved what is forcing the client to continue drug abuse. In many instances the client may not be honest and may not accept that he is an abuser, in such cases the AOD workers have to ensure to the client that they will maintain confidentiality and he is to not to feel guilty for what he has been doing. MI revolves around some basic key points – that is it is important that it must be the client who must feel that there is a need of de- addiction and not some outside source. The counselor is just a bridge it is the client who has to resolve ambivalence ....