Family

In the case of Brittany, her goals are to obtain financial responsibility, obtain steady and taxable employment, and attend higher education. Other goals that Brittany has include obtaining mental health services, rehabilitation services for both her, and her boyfriend, and to obtain and maintain social and family support. The goals above are very attainable; especially for someone like Brittany because she is independent, and determined to get her life on track. Although Brittany is determined, she will need some motivation to help her reach her goals. There are several strategies a case manager can utilize to motivate a client to make changes and follow through with a treatment plan. Motivational strategies that will help Brittany move forward with the initial change process and treatment plan will be to ask direct open-ended questions, eliciting talk about change, decisional balance sheet, and using the “importance ruler” (Mehr, & Kanwischer, 2011). Asking Brittany direct open-ended questions will allow her to talk and put things into perspective for her and the case worker by allowing her to elaborate on specific topics (Mehr, & Kanwischer, 2011). For example, asking Brittany “what concerns do you have about you and your boyfriends substance abuse habits?”, “how has your recent behavior interfered with the goals you have?”, and “How do you feel about being the only person working in your household?” Asking these open-ended questions will shed light upon the downside of Brittany’s current situation (Mehr, & Kanwischer, 2011). Open-ended questions that may help Brittany to become motivated are ones such as “ What are your strengths that you think can help you reach your goals?”, “What changes do you think you can make that will make your life easier and more enjoyable?”. Eliciting talk about change is when a case manager discusses change in a motivational manner (Mehr, & Kanwischer, 2011), which in turn, will