Common Therapeutic Models
A number of individual therapies have shown promising results as interventions in the management of CEP in children and young people.
The best evidence has been found for Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solutions Focused Therapy
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach
- Narrative Therapy
- Family Focused Interventions
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
- Acceptance Commitment Theory
YouthAOD Toolbox provides further information on models which can be accessed here: https://www.youthaodtoolbox.org.au/therapeutic-models
Evidence-based worksheets
The following worksheets can be used in individual treatment sessions with the young people you are working with that provide motivational interviewing and CBT frameworks and concepts:
- Decisional Balance Exercise
This exercise aims to build motivation to change substance use (or other behaviour) by reflection and eliciting change talk. - Readiness Rulers Exercise
Visual scales that help assess motivation, by measuring a belief in importance of change and confidence in ability. - Cravings & Triggers
- Goal Setting
These worksheets provide SMART goal setting instructions to support a young person plan for and make change. - Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Interventions
The following worksheets provide seven sessions of relapse prevention to use with youth in regards to making change to substance use. - Emotions And Mood Monitoring
Visual scales that help assess motivation, by measuring a belief in importance of change and confidence in ability. - Alcohol And Other Drugs Diary
A tool that can be helpful to look at the young person's links between their emotions and substance use. - Drink Diary
- My Plan
- 9 Tips
Harm Reduction
Harm Reduction includes a wide range of strategies and information aimed at minimising the harmful effects of substance use on young people's lives.
Young people respond more positively to strategies that recognise and respect their ability to make their own decisions. The following resources provide AOD information, and include some harm reduction strategies for young people to help them keep safe and make positive changes.
Assessing and Managing Harm: Giving the best advice
We have some Harm Reduction advice tips on our SACS ABC desktop quick reference guide, these tips (below) offer some general advice on strategies you can use with young people to encourage positive change. For more targetted tips, see more under the table.
Where to for more information?
See the NZ Drug Foundation website
School Approaches
- Tūturu: www.tuturu.org.nz
A collection of resources to enable a 'whole of school' approach to alcohol and other drugs preparedness. - Helping young people stay engaged in education
A presentation by Ben Birks on setting up a school-based treatment service.
You can find the video by clicking here.
Relapse Prevention
<Coming soon>
Other Links:
- Leading Lights: (Canterbury NZ) Leading Lights provides guidance pathways to help educators and supporting services in Canterbury recognise and respond to the needs of individual children in Years 1 to 8.
- YoDAA: (Australia) 'Youth AoD Toolbox' The definitive resource for evidence-based youth AOD practice https://yodaa.org.au/toolbox
