Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The process that helps clients overcome resistance to achieve change in addiction treatment is primarily found in the concept of motivational interviewing. This approach emphasizes collaboration between the counselor and the client, fostering an environment in which clients can explore their thoughts and feelings about their addiction and the changes they want to make.

Motivational interviewing is specifically designed to evoke and strengthen personal motivation for change by building empathy, supporting self-efficacy, and rolling with resistance rather than confronting it directly. This method recognizes that ambivalence is a common barrier to change and provides a structured way for clients to address and resolve these feelings, which ultimately promotes their capacity to commit to the treatment process.

While therapeutic rapport is essential for establishing a trusting relationship, it does not specifically address the processes of overcoming resistance. Understanding the processes of change is valuable, but it does not directly facilitate the motivational aspect. Behavior reinforcement can support change but typically involves a more rigid structure that may not address the nuances of personal ambivalence and resistance that motivational interviewing directly targets.

Therefore, motivational interviewing is uniquely effective in guiding clients through their feelings about change, enhancing their motivation, and helping them navigate the challenges they face during addiction treatment.