PCUG Addiction Treatment

Self-efficacy refers to trying to enhance the person's own sense of their ability to change things for the better. This involves praising them/rewarding them for positive behaviour. Under 'responsibility' above, I talked about the importance of avoiding responses of any kind to the negative behaviours caused by drinking. However, if positive behaviours occur these should be recognised and responded to. These differing responses are consistent with the 'rules' of behavioural modification therapy. If you are trying to modify someone's behaviour, then the rule of thumb is to ignore unwanted behaviours and to reward desired behaviours. This can work well in children who are bed-wetting - they are not punished when they wet the bed, but if they do manage to go through the night without wetting, they are rewarded with a gold star. The problem with this approach in adults is that it can sometimes be seen through easily, and then experienced as 'manipulation'. You will have to be subtle in your use of praise. For example, use inflection of voice to ask a question in a way that sounds pleasantly surprised: