Overview of Session 1: Reviewing the PFR
Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Delivery Method: MET-focused individual therapy
Materials (all forms except the PFR are at the end of this section):
• Two copies of client’s completed PFR (form AS8 from the assessment session)
• Learning New Coping Strategies (form 1A)
• A Guide to Quitting Marijuana (form 1B)
• A blank copy of the Quit Agreement (form 1C)
Goals for This Session:
• To present the data gathered during the assessment session concerning marijuana use, its consequences, and the likely benefits and costs of stopping or reducing use
• To facilitate the client’s candid reflection on consequences of marijuana use
• To explore the client’s attitudes about change, including ambivalent attitudes
• To acknowledge the client’s expressions of readiness for change, help set goals, and identify change strategies
Session Outline:
1. Assess the client’s readiness to proceed
• Ask client for his or her feelings and thoughts about the assessment session
• Ask whether any changes have occurred since the last meeting
• Reinforce expressions of motivation
2. Review the PFR
• Age of onset
• Comparison of use patterns to the national average
• Problems caused by use
• Tolerance level
• Reasons for quitting
• Risk factors
3. Summarize the PFR review
4. Elicit and reinforce client’s readiness to change
5. Assist the client in preparing for change
• Ask him or her to select a stop date (if the client has not already stopped using)
• Discuss
— Whether the client will stop “cold turkey”
— What the client will do with current marijuana supply and paraphernalia
— How the client will disclose plans to family and friends
— How the client will address problems in maintaining abstinence
6. Help the client identify specific behavior change strategies
• Discuss Learning New Coping Strategies (form 1A) and A Guide to Quitting Marijuana (form 1B)
• Discuss barriers to quitting and vulnerabilities to slipping
— Managing general stress (HALT)
— People, situations, and thoughts that increase vulnerability
— Significant life changes likely to produce stress
— Supportive people who will provide help
• Review previous successful experiences at quitting to identify useful strategies
7. Assign between-session exercises
• Prepare Quit Agreement (form 1C)
• Review Learning New Coping Strategies (form 1A)
• Review A Guide to Quitting Marijuana (form 1B)
8. Ask client to invite a supporter to next session
9. Review and conclude session