ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates motivational dialogue applied to three particular treatment situations that commonly arise within the context of core stepped care interventions. Pharmacotherapies are normally used as enhancements to psychosocial treatments. The prescriber has a duty to ensure both that any medication prescribed is safe for a particular client and also that it is likely to be of benefit to the client. The chapter looks at some specific prescribing examples but, before doing so, a few words on timing. Motivational dialogue is a directive, but not challenging, style of delivering interventions and it is, therefore, well suited to the needs of prescribers. It focuses on the way that motivation needs to be addressed at each of the stages of change and with reference to different elements of a stepped care approach. Whether the treatment is a pharmacological treatment, a behavioural or a pharmacological treatment, the principles of eliciting problem recognition.
