Using the Character Development Model in the Group Counseling Context With a Court-Mandated Substance Abuse Client: A Clinical Report

Abstract

Court-mandated substance-abusing clients often have years of use that has slowly eroded their character development. Substance abuse clients are particularly challenging because the use of substances often affects several life domains simultaneously. Group counseling has long been the mainstay of treatment for this population, and various interventions are available for therapists who practice group counseling. The study of character development is an emerging trend in three theoretical orientations—dynamic psychiatry, transpersonal psychiatry, and positive psychology (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). The authors present a self-assessment instrument, the Character Identity Inventory (Hall, 2006), which helps both therapist and client to identify strengths and weaknesses of character. The Character Identity Development Model (Hall) is an adaptation from the character development and positive psychology literature and can be used as a therapeutic framework to integrate the components of character development into group counseling. Use of this model with a court-mandated, treatment-resistant client is presented. Specific examples include how one of the authors (BK) was able to lower the client's resistance and increase motivation within the group setting.

KEYWORDS:

• character development
• group counseling
• court mandated
• substance abuse
• theoretical orientation