| Abstract: | ABSTRACT A brief intervention tailored for marijuana users in the contemplation stage of change is presented. This “no pressure to change” approach employs principles of motivational enhancement. Empirical support for brief interventions is reviewed. Rollnick and Miller's motivational interviewing principles are outlined, with particular emphasis on stage-specific tasks faced by individuals at early stages of readiness for change based on Prochaska and DiClemente' s Transtheoretical Model of Change. The history and utility of the “check-up” as a viable intervention for individuals in earlier stages of change is also described. The Marijuana Check-Up makes use of a personalized diagrammatic feedback report on the individual's personal use, providing a focus for the one session interview. Clinical challenges and therapeutic response are illustrated with typical case vignettes germane to the Marijuana Check-Up. |
