The Effective School Counselor With a High Risk Teen: Motivational Interviewing Demonstration

Summary

In this insightful script, a counselor engages with Andrea, a high school junior, focusing on her aspirations and values. They explore Andrea's social life, particularly her relationship with alcohol, and its impact on her goals. Through reflective dialogue, the counselor helps Andrea recognize the importance of respecting herself and her body, leading to a discussion about reducing alcohol consumption to align with her future ambitions of attending an Ivy League school and becoming a psychiatrist.

Takeaways

• 😀 The counselor emphasizes the student's autonomy and the importance of self-reflection on personal goals and values.
• 🎶 Andrea is deeply involved in music, participating in various ensembles, which contributes to her sense of community and belonging.
• 👨‍👧 Andrea values her family and mentions having an older brother and a golden retriever dog, indicating her connection to her home environment.
• 🏫 Andrea has good academic performance with a GPA of around 3.7 and aspires to attend an Ivy League school to study psychology and become a psychiatrist.
• 🗝 The counselor introduces a list of values to Andrea, who identifies 'sense of community and belonging' and 'respect' as most important to her.
• 🍻 Alcohol is present in Andrea's social life, mainly during parties, and is seen as a way to loosen up and have fun, but also has negative aspects.
• 🚫 Andrea is aware of the dangers of alcohol, such as drunk driving and poor decision-making, and tries to limit its consumption to safe environments.
• 🤔 The counselor helps Andrea explore the balance between enjoying alcohol's social benefits and the need to respect her body and future goals.
• 🔄 Andrea considers setting limits on her drinking, such as making her own drink to control the amount and trying to make it last longer during social events.
• 🔄 The counselor uses decisional balance to help Andrea weigh the pros and cons of her drinking habits and to identify her motivations for change.
• 📝 The session concludes with Andrea expressing a goal to reduce her alcohol consumption, with the counselor suggesting a follow-up meeting to track progress.

Q & A

What is the primary role of the counselor in the conversation?

The counselor's primary role is to meet with students, discuss their behaviors, and help them think about potential changes for their lives, while respecting their autonomy and not trying to change them.

Why is Andrea involved in various music ensembles?

Andrea is involved in various music ensembles because she has a passion for music, having started playing instruments 10 years ago and enjoys the team setting of working towards a common goal.

What are Andrea's academic goals after high school?

Andrea's academic goals are to graduate high school, hopefully attend an Ivy League school, and then study to become a doctor, specifically a psychiatrist.

What values does Andrea identify as most important to her?

Andrea identifies a sense of community, belonging, and respect as the values most important to her.

How does Andrea's involvement in the marching band relate to her values?

Andrea's involvement in the marching band relates to her values of community and belonging because she enjoys being part of a team working towards a shared goal.

What is Andrea's perspective on the role of alcohol in her social life?

Andrea sees alcohol as a way to loosen up and have fun during parties, but she also acknowledges the need for safety and moderation to avoid negative consequences.

How often does Andrea engage in drinking?

Andrea estimates that during a not busy month, she drinks on about two to three weekends out of the month.

What are some of the negative consequences Andrea associates with excessive drinking?

Andrea associates excessive drinking with making poor decisions, getting sick from overconsumption, and engaging in inappropriate behaviors.

How does Andrea's aunt's situation influence her views on alcohol?

Andrea's aunt being an alcoholic makes her more aware of the potential dangers and consequences of alcohol abuse, influencing her to be cautious and respectful of her own limits.

What strategies does Andrea consider to reduce her alcohol consumption?

Andrea considers making her own drinks to control the amount, extending the time she spends on one drink, and planning more activities that do not involve alcohol.

How confident is Andrea in her ability to cut down on drinking if she decides to?

Andrea is very confident, rating her ability to cut down on drinking as a ten on a scale from one to ten.

What does the counselor suggest as a follow-up to their conversation?

The counselor suggests meeting again in a couple of weeks to check on Andrea's progress with her goal of reducing alcohol consumption.