Question

Name and summarize the four types of resistance clients often exhibit toward receiving the help they need.

Answer 1

While many similarities exist between substance abuse treatment for those in the criminal justice system and for those in the general population, people in the criminal justice system have added stressors, including but not limited to their precarious legal situation. Criminal justice clients also tend to have characteristics that affect treatment. These include criminal thinking and criminal values along with the more typical resistance and denial issues found in other substance abuse treatment populations.

Many offenders also have a long history of psychosocial problems that have contributed to their substance abuse: interpersonal difficulties with family members, difficulties in sustaining long-term relationships, emotional and psychological problems and disorders, difficulty managing anger and stress, lack of education and vocational skills, and problems finding and maintaining gainful employment (Belenko and Peugh 1998; Peters 1993). These chronic problems often are associated with reduced self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and enhanced expectations about the initial use of substances. Unsuccessful attempts at abstinence also tend to reinforce a negative self-image and increase the likelihood that offenders will use substances when faced with conflict or stress.

This chapter addresses strategies for modifying substance abuse treatment services for criminal justice clients. Some of these strategies are underlying program components, such as incentives for program participation and emphasis on personal accountability; others are more directly related to clinical issues, such as intervening with criminal thinking and teaching basic problemsolving skills.

Answer 2

There are different types of resistances, resistance can be seen on two levels; macro level and the micro level. Macro level resistance is indicated by missing appointments, not showing up and not doing what is assigned. At micro level, that during the sessions, resistance shown by the patient for example arguing , talking over and cutting off, denying, blaming, excuses and showing unwillingness to change.

Clients that show resistance include criminals and people who need substance abuse treatment. They often have the characteristics that slow down the treatment by showing resistance at micro and macro level. Many also have a history of psychosocial problems that have affected their personal and professional lives.They tend to have emotional problems like anger management issues, lack of education, hard time in maintaining good relationship with friends and family.