Therapy Recommendation for an Alcoholic

Case Application Activity 4 Instructions:
Please read the provided case example and answer the discussion questions below, incorporating the attached course material. **No cover page needed.
*Case Example*
Maria is a LCDC counselor working in a treatment center for individuals who struggle with substance use disorders. She is currently working with Adam who has completed detoxification from alcohol and is now ready to start treatment. He has agreed to complete 28 days of residential treatment. Maria is assigned to begin working with Adam as his individual counselor. She met with him to gather information about his use. During this hour and a half session she learned he is a 30 heterosexual male. He is married and has two children under 5. He reports he has been using alcohol since he was 16. He reports using a lot during college, but usually only on the weekends. He reported on the weekends during college he would drink so much he would black out and sometimes miss class or work on the Monday after a binger.
Since being out of college he reported he drinks every night, and sometimes takes a shot of whiskey in the morning before he leaves for work. He still will go “out to party” with his friends most weekends as well. This continues to sometimes impact going to work on Monday. He reports the reason he is in treatment is because he was drug tested at his job as a train engineer. They discovered he had alcohol in his system while on the job, enough to be over the legal limit. Adam claims he was not drunk and his drinking does not hinder his function to work. He reports it takes more alcohol than that to impair his ability to function. Maria asked “what is your motivation for being in treatment?” and he responded his job requested him to attend or his job would be in jeopardy.
Maria also asked about “what other ways his alcohol has caused problems in his life?” Adam minimized the impact, but after some follow up questions Maria learned he often hides his alcohol around the house, because his wife complains when he drinks. He reports they have a fight about once a week about the amount he drinks. He also stated his doctor told him to cut down on his drinking in order to lower his blood pressure.
Adam has never participated in any kind of therapy or self-help groups and reported “I don’t think I need therapy. That is for people who are crazy or emotional”.
After reading the case example, please answer the 3 following questions:
• What other questions or information would you want to know in order to help this client?
• Based on the course material, which model of individual therapy would be the most effective in working with this client? Explain why you think so.
• What are some of the other tools, techniques and questions Maria could use when working with this client in order to make counseling successful? (Name and describe at least two).