Work-Related Interview Skills Training for Persons with Substance Use Disorders

ABSTRACT

Persons with substance use disorders (SUDs) experience high unemployment rates that can increase relapse risk. Research on employment counseling for this population is lacking. This study examined a direct skills teaching (DST) approach to improve job interview preparedness. Graduate internship students at mental health and rehabilitation agency sites in the Northeast provided “Presenting Qualifications”, a brief, DST-based, group curriculum to 55 participants with SUDs in 15 different groups. At post-intervention, participants reported increased confidence and knowledge with aspects of presenting oneself during a job interview. This approach can potentially help this population achieve better employment outcomes through a group intervention.

KEYWORDS:

• Substance use disorders
• direct skills teaching
• job interview
• disabilities
• employment
• student learning outcomes
• group intervention

Additional information

Funding

The work is supported by Rutgers SHP Dean’s Intramural Grant.

Notes on contributors

Weili Lu

Weili Lu, Ph.D, CRC is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey. She is a licensed clinical psychologist, and conducts clinical research in the areas of traumatic stress and rehabilitation counseling for persons with psychiatric disabilities.

Janice Oursler

Janice Oursler, Ph.D, CRC, NCC, is the Program Director for the Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling and associate professor in Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey

Samantha Herrick

Samantha Herrick, Ph.D, CRC, ACS is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey

John Beninato

John Beninato, MS, MHC-LP, NCC, CRC is a former graduate student and research assistant in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey. He is also a psychotherapist working in a private practice setting in New York City.

Ni Gao

Ni Gao, Ph.D., LCSW is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey

Lucille Brown

Lucille Brown, MA, LAC, LCADC, is a Doctoral student and research assistant in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey. She is also a mental health clinician at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.

Alison Durante

Alison Durante, MS, is a doctoral student in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey. She is also a clinician at Catholic Charities in New Jersey.