Application of HR and MI to Rochelle

The family member I selected is Rochell, a drug addict who needs guidance on both harm reduction and motivational interviewing. About harm reduction, as a social worker, I would recommend some strategies that could reduce the harm of the addiction. Drug addiction can be harmful in various ways to her and the people around her, such as her son, mother, neighbors, and friends. One of the strategies that would help is encouraging her to take low content alcohol drinks rather than those with high alcohol content. Another strategy is creating a supervised setting to help her control the amounts of drugs she injects. Another strategy is providing her with sterile injecting equipment. This could help reduce the chances of contracting HIV from sharing the injections (Kulikowski & Linder). Since harm reduction aims at focusing on small goals to achieve a bigger one, these steps would help Rochelle quit drugs.

Motivational interviewing involves helping clients find the motivation towards making a positive behavior change, especially when they have mixed feelings. In this case, Rochelle has mixed feelings towards changing her behavior; thus, helping her find the motivation is crucial. To help Rochelle find motivation, there are several techniques I would use (Hartney, 2021). Firstly, I would have a counseling session with her while asking her open-ended questions about her behavior. Open-ended questions would help her speak out her mind without limitations. Secondly, I would provide affirmations or statements that recognize her strength. For example, she did very well in high school, meaning she is intelligent. That is one affirmation that would build her confidence. Lastly, I would employ reflective listening to assure her that I understand her point of view and give her the chance to elaborate on her feelings. Through the strategies, I would help Rochelle find motivation. For example, taking care of her son.

References

Hartney, E. (2021, August 23). What is motivational interviewing? Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-motivational-interviewing-22378#:~

Kulikowski, J., & Linder, E. (2018). Making a case for harm reduction programs for injection drug users. Nursing, 48(6), 46-51. doi:10.1097/01.nurse.0000532745.80506.17