Brief Counseling for Marijuana Dependence

Brief Training for Marijuana Dependence

Course Description:

This manual for Brief Marijuana Dependence Counseling (BMDC) is based on the research protocol used by counselors in MTP. The manual provides guidelines for counselors, social workers, and psychologists in both public and private settings who treat adults dependent on marijuana. The 10 weekly one-on-one sessions in the BMDC manual offer examples of how a counselor can help a client understand certain topics, keep his or her determination to change, learn new skills, and access needed community supports (exhibit I-1). Stephens and colleagues (2002) describe the MTP rationale, design, and participant characteristics.

Brief Training for Marijuana Dependence

Learning Objectives

After completing this training the health care professional will:

• Encouraging therapeutic engagement
• Performing a thorough assessment of the client's marijuana problem, as well as his or her strengths and resources
• Facilitating motivation for change
• Addressing psychosocial problems beyond marijuana use
• Building skills to establish and sustain change.