An Evaluation of Motivational Interviewing Based Treatment in a University Addiction Counseling Training Clinic

Abstract

The purpose of the pilot study was to examine the effectiveness of a university-based addiction clinic where counseling students treat clients with Motivational Interviewing. Participants (N = 55) were college students referred for alcohol-related problems to an addiction counseling training clinic within a CACREP-accredited counseling program. In the clinic, counseling students screen for problematic drinking through the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and counsel clients with Motivational Interviewing. The authors examined AUDIT scores from the clinic archives and subjected the scores to paired sample t-tests and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Tests based on the normality of the subscales. The paired sample t-tests and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Tests both resulted in statistically significant decreases from pretreatment to post-treatment scores. The findings support the feasibility, preliminary design, and likelihood of positive results of future research that expands the parameters of our pilot study. Implications for research and counselors are discussed.

Keywords:

• Addiction
• training clinic
• alcohol problems
• AUDIT
• Motivational Interviewing

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Stephanie Dorais

Stephanie Dorais is a doctoral student in the Counselor Education program at William & Mary. Her research focuses on trauma, spirituality, and intervention research.

Daniel Gutierrez

Daniel Gutierrez is an Assistant Professor in the Counselor Education program at William & Mary. He focuses on improving the well-being for marginalized populations through counseling and education. His research interests include the influence of spirituality and contemplative practices on mental health and addiction recovery.

Charles Rick Gressard

Charles Rick Gressard is a Chancellor Professor in the Counselor Education program at William & Mary. His clinical and research interests include addiction counseling and prevention, counseling ethics, and transpersonal counseling.