| Drug = Alcohol & Other Drugs | Copyright & Disclaimer |
Links in GREEN go to pages outside of DrugNet

Click on any DrugNet Subject Heading

DrugNet Home
DrugNet
HOME
DrugNet Discussion
DrugNet
Discussion
Search DrugNet
Search
DrugNet
DrugNet Site Map (Contents Page)
Site Map
DrugNet News, Updates & Events
DrugNet
News
DrugNet Feedback
DrugNet
Feedback

Assessment as Intervention
using the G R O W S coaching method

Drug assessments often tend to focus on the amount of drug use, problems associated with use and some sort of assessment of the client's willingness to change their consumption patterns.

The GROWS coaching method (adapted from John Whitmore) of interview can be used for peer supervision and client assessment.  It is one of the tools used by life coaches to help motivate and focus on what is possible at it relates to life goals (see: Coaching Web Sites).

This method is useful for contemplators, actioners, maintainers as well as those who may have recently relapsed.

The sequence of GROW is:
G

R

O

W

S

=

=

=

=

=

GOALS

REALITY

OPTIONS

WILL

Support

Setting Goals for the session

What is Really going on

What Options or alternatives for action exist

What Will you do. By When and with Whom, Will you do it.

Who will support you in your plan?

Go to Top of Page

GROW Steps as Applied to Drug Assessment/Intervention

bullet Step 1 - Session Goals:
bullet
In reference to any drug use issues you may have, what would you like to get out of this next session? or
bullet
We have 45 minutes, what would be the most useful thing for you to take away regarding dealing with any drug issues you may have?

In setting session goals, the counsellor needs to differentiate between other goals such as end goals (i.e. to be in a healthy relationship and have control over my drug use) and performance goals (the measurable parts of end goals - i.e. to have a partner who compliments me at least daily and never hits me - not to have any more than six drinks at any one session).

bullet Step 2 - Reality:
bullet
What is happening now? (…around your goal, drug use and things you think are important?)
bullet
Who is involved?
bullet
What have you done about this so far?
bullet
What results did that produce?
bullet
What have been the things which have helped so far and what has hindered?

The format below may assist to record the helps and hinders of what has been going on(see below). This may subsequently be useful in stimulating client options:

Session Goal: .............................

Secrets of Success

HELPS

.

.

HINDERS

.

.

Go to Top of Page

bullet Step 3 - Options
bullet
What options do you have?
bullet
What else could you do? (Encourage brainstorming here. Volume is the key)
bullet
Would you like another suggestion? - (only offer if needed and only after all of the clients options completely exhausted)
bullet
What are the benefits and costs of each?
bullet Step 4 - Will (What)
bullet
What are you going to do?
bullet
When are you going to do it?
bullet
Will this meet your goal?
bullet
What barriers or obstacles could you face?
bullet
How will you overcome them?
bullet
Who needs to know about your plans
bullet
What support do you need?
bullet
How will you get that support?
bullet
Rate yourself on a 1-10 scale on the chances of you carrying out this action? (i.e. will you do it? - possibly some further work required if less than 7)
bullet
Has this session met your session goal? (restate their session goal)

Go to Top of Page

bullet Step 5 - Who
bullet
Who needs to know about your plans
bullet
What support do you need?
bullet
How will you get that support?
bullet
Rate yourself on a 1-10 scale on the chances of you carrying out this action? (i.e. will you do it? - possibly some further work required if less than 7)
bullet
Has this session met your session goal? (restate their session goal)
bullet I will be interested to hear how things went.  When can we meet again to talk about how you're going with your plans?

Go to Top of Page

Consider the use of an action planning sheet such as the one below:

Issue/Goal

Action Planned

When

Support

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Review (follow-up): How did it go - What did you do?

.

.

What helped - What worked

What hindered - What didn't work

.

.

.

.

Go to Top of Page

Guide Only

These questions and format are a guide only. For example, the client may need to re-negotiate their goal after examining what's happening (Reality). However, it is useful for the client to leave with their session goal (and other goals if formulated) and their short-term action sheets with them.

Source/Reference

The GROW model along with much of the notes on coaching have been adapted from the highly recommended book by John Whitmore, (1992, revised 1993) Coaching for Performance - A Practical Guide to Growing Your Own Skills  Nicholas Bealey Publishing, London. ISBN 1 85788 013 7

Go to Top of Page

Other DrugNet Pages in this Subject Heading

Introduction ] Assessment Interview ] Assessment Tool ] Case Plan ] Screening ] On-Line Screening ] AUDIT ] CAGE Alcohol Screen ] [ GROW ] Community Assessment ] Community Plan ] Psycho-Social Assessment ]

[ DrugNet Home ] [ Site Map ] [ Drug Links ] [ Feedback ]

Click Here to Translate into Other Languages