Overview of Session 8: Skill Topic 6, Marijuana Refusal Skills
Total Time: 1 hour
Delivery Method: CBT-focused individual therapy
Material (form is at the end of this section):
• Marijuana Refusal Skills (form 8A)
Goal for This Session:
• To learn about and practice assertive responses to offers of marijuana use
Session Outline:
1. Discuss the effects of social relationships
• Explain that marijuana use limits one’s social group to those who use; explain that this makes it harder to stay abstinent because it increases
— Direct and indirect pressure to use
— Cravings associated with people, places, activities, etc.
— Positive expectancies about the effects of use
— Access to and availability of marijuana
2. Discuss social pressures, risky situations, and assertiveness
• Explain that avoidance of risky social situations is the safest behavior
• Explain that refusing marijuana requires assertiveness skills
• Provide guidance for marijuana refusal: nonverbal behavior, oral responses, requesting behavior change, changing the subject, avoiding excuses
3. Rehearse behaviors
• Role play refusal skills with client
• Process the role play
• Reverse roles with client and model a refusal skill
4. Assign between-session exercise
5. Review and conclude session