Case Study 5
How to control your drinking and still be part of the 'in group' - for clients of a Drug and Alcohol Service
Mark has a long history of helping organisations help employees develop strategies to control their drinking, reduce irresponsible drinking and associated behaviour, and cut down on lost productivity due to alcohol. Mark has designed 'controlled drinking' programs and, as an example, delivered one for clients of a Drug and Alcohol Service. This was a 'brief intervention' model focusing on:
- Identifying factors which triggered alcohol consumption;
- Identifying and dealing with 'self talk' and limiting beliefs;
- Developing personal strategies to reduce alcohol consumption;
- Developing strategies to overcome the real world obstacles to reducing alcohol consumption; and
- Developing personalised social communication skills to overcome pressures to exceed limits.
Group work and experiential methods were key features to help this vulnerable group feel valued and empowered in order to take control and to change decisions into actions.