The Seven Challenges ® Overview Robert Schwebel, Ph.D. Reclaiming Futures October 30, 2008 .

The Seven ChallengesThe Seven Challenges®® OverviewOverview

Robert Schwebel, Ph.D.Robert Schwebel, Ph.D.Reclaiming FuturesReclaiming FuturesOctober 30, 2008October 30, 2008

www.sevenchallenges.com

http://www.sevenchallenges.com/

Youth in the Early Stages of Youth in the Early Stages of ChangeChange

• Don’t think they have a problemDon’t think they have a problem

• Don’t think their life would be better Don’t think their life would be better without drugswithout drugs

• Don’t know what it takes to Don’t know what it takes to overcome a drug problemovercome a drug problem

• Don’t feel they could succeedDon’t feel they could succeed

• Not prepared to succeedNot prepared to succeed

© 2008 Robert Schwebel, Ph.D.© 2008 Robert Schwebel, Ph.D.

The Mad Rush for The Mad Rush for AbstinenceAbstinence

The mad rush is a frantic attempt to The mad rush is a frantic attempt to convince youth that drugs are dangerous, convince youth that drugs are dangerous, that they personally have been harmed that they personally have been harmed by drugs, and that they must quit.by drugs, and that they must quit.


Bad Outcomes from the Mad Bad Outcomes from the Mad Rush for AbstinenceRush for Abstinence

• Fakers (tell the adults what they want to Fakers (tell the adults what they want to hear) hear)

• FightersFighters– Aggressive fightersAggressive fighters– Passive-aggressive fighter who play the game: Passive-aggressive fighter who play the game:

“Go ahead, try to make me quit”“Go ahead, try to make me quit”• Fleers: “Got no problem. No way I’ll quit. Fleers: “Got no problem. No way I’ll quit.

I’m out of here.”I’m out of here.”• Followers: Try to quit, but with narrow focus Followers: Try to quit, but with narrow focus

on quitting and not enough attention to co-on quitting and not enough attention to co-occurring problems, often results in failure.occurring problems, often results in failure.


The Starting PointThe Starting Point

Start where youth are at, not where we Start where youth are at, not where we wish they might be, not where they wish they might be, not where they might pretend to be, and not where might pretend to be, and not where they might be for a fleeting moment they might be for a fleeting moment in time.in time.


COURTESY RELAPSE COURTESY RELAPSE PREVENTIONPREVENTION• For youth under external pressure to quitFor youth under external pressure to quit• Not a counselor’s job to make you quitNot a counselor’s job to make you quit• What do YOU want to do?What do YOU want to do?• If an impulse to quit, we provide courtesy If an impulse to quit, we provide courtesy

relapse preventionrelapse prevention• Whole hearted support for abstinenceWhole hearted support for abstinence• Impulse not confused with an informed Impulse not confused with an informed

and motivated decisionand motivated decision• We work on two levels: for abstinence and We work on two levels: for abstinence and

for a foundation for successfor a foundation for success


Working SessionsWorking Sessions

• We teach youth how to identify the We teach youth how to identify the issues that are most important to them, issues that are most important to them, and have them bring these issues to and have them bring these issues to sessions. sessions.

• Counselors identify other relevant issues Counselors identify other relevant issues and then bring activities to sessions or and then bring activities to sessions or start discussions about these issues.start discussions about these issues.

• We make The Seven Challenges part of We make The Seven Challenges part of the conversation.the conversation.


The Seven ChallengesThe Seven Challenges®® Counseling SkillsCounseling Skills• Proactively undo the expectation that counselors’ Proactively undo the expectation that counselors’

job is to make youth quit: Youth are convinced we job is to make youth quit: Youth are convinced we are there to make them quit, unless we undo this. are there to make them quit, unless we undo this. It’s a set up for faking and fighting.It’s a set up for faking and fighting.

• Defer the decision (Decide after you think about it, Defer the decision (Decide after you think about it, not before)not before)

• Support clean and sober impulses with Courtesy Support clean and sober impulses with Courtesy Relapse PreventionRelapse Prevention

• Redefine success in smaller increments. (Make Redefine success in smaller increments. (Make goals relevant and attainable.)goals relevant and attainable.)

• Allow and encourage free discussion of drug Allow and encourage free discussion of drug benefitsbenefits


• Validate reasons for drug use (Make connections between Validate reasons for drug use (Make connections between drug use and life circumstances)drug use and life circumstances)

• Redefine role as problem solving partnerRedefine role as problem solving partner• Defocus on drugsDefocus on drugs

– Address co-occurring problemsAddress co-occurring problems– Teach life skillsTeach life skills

• Use finesse to get to harm without increasing Use finesse to get to harm without increasing defensivenessdefensiveness

• Don’t play “try to make me quit”Don’t play “try to make me quit”• Elicit youth concerns; tap their ambivalence (privately Elicit youth concerns; tap their ambivalence (privately

and secretly concerned, but resist treatment) and secretly concerned, but resist treatment) • Use caring confrontation Use caring confrontation • Inspire hope & optimism & teach skills for a better futureInspire hope & optimism & teach skills for a better future


Implementation ProblemsImplementation Problems

• Commitment of Commitment of agencyagency

• Misunderstanding of Misunderstanding of training with EBPtraining with EBP

• Arguing and trying to Arguing and trying to control youthcontrol youth

• Wanting to teach or Wanting to teach or lecturelecture

• Misunderstanding of Misunderstanding of EBP implementationEBP implementation

• Lack of trust that Lack of trust that youth will workyouth will work

• Discomfort with Discomfort with asking youth what asking youth what they like about drugsthey like about drugs

• Blaming YouthBlaming Youth

• Work force Work force deficienciesdeficiencies

• Staff turnoverStaff turnover


Implementation Implementation ImprovementImprovement• Clearer AgreementsClearer Agreements

• More materials to help implementMore materials to help implement

• More trainingMore training

• Immediate support on phone callsImmediate support on phone calls

• Leader TrainingLeader Training

• Help with supervision strategiesHelp with supervision strategies

• Materials for QAMaterials for QA

• Use of websiteUse of website


CONTACT INFORMATIONCONTACT INFORMATION

• Sharon Conner, DirectorSharon Conner, Director

Seven Challenges Program ServicesSeven Challenges Program Services

[email protected]

(520) 405-4559(520) 405-4559

www.sevenchallenges.com


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.sevenchallenges.com/

The Seven Challenges ® Overview Robert Schwebel, Ph.D. Reclaiming Futures October 30, 2008 .

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