Interventions to Address Problems Linked to the Client's Substance Abuse

Because substance use problems are so often entangled with other difficulties exhibited or experienced by clients, a therapist will be in the frequent position of designing interventions to address complex problems in an integrated manner. Chapter 5 considered how both initial and ongoing assessments can reveal symptoms of co-morbid psychological disorders, health complications, relationship difficulties, vocational problems, and legal or ethical concerns. In chapters 6 to 8, planning and implementing treatment to directly address substance use concerns were discussed, acknowledging the importance of accounting for associated problems. This chapter focuses more explicitly on interventions undertaken to deal with contextual factors that may be contributing to, resulting from, or interacting with a client's substance abuse.