[acb-hsp] ACB-HSP Conference call for March 6, 2011

[Marleen O'Neill]

The call began at 8:30 pm. EST., 5:30 pm. PST. Marleen O'Neill and Lauren 
Casey presented on Drug abuse counseling, and the proper procedures for 
conducting an intake interview.  The importance of the client/counselor 
relationship was stressed.  The counselor must suspend all judgment about 
the client's behavior, and act in the client's best interests at all times. 
The counselor must approach the client from the standpoint that the client's 
negative behaviors can be changed.  If the counselor does not believe that 
these behaviors can be changed, he/she must refer the client to someone 
else. The counselor must demonstrate a caring attitude toward the client, 
emphasizing that the intake interview is mutually benefitial.  A holistic 
intake interview should be done as opposed to a narrow one focusing only on 
the client's addiction. This type of interview focuses on the client's 
medical history, psychological and personal history, their educational and 
vocational history, as well as aspects of their past and present addiction 
patterns.  A comprehensive intake interview such as this will provide a 
broad view of all of the issues surrounding the client's addiction, and will 
result in a broader, more comprehensive treatment plan.  The call ended at 
9:30 pm. EST., 6:30 pm. PST.

Respectfully submitted,
Marleen O'Neill
Secretary
ACB-HSP
American Council of the Blind
Human Service Professionals