Conversations with Persons Dealing with Problems of Substance Use— Wendy R. West

This article provides practice-based and narrative-inspired ideas for working with persons who struggle with substance use. The author describes various categories of questions that assist people: to reflect on the ways alcohol, cocaine or other drugs have impacted their lives; to articulate their intentions and purposes in stopping using; to develop skills and abilities for resisting cravings and urges; and to begin to create identities based on new or re-claimed purposes, values, beliefs, and commitments.