[Ailist] Has AI been used effectively with teen-agers and drugs

[Nick Heap]

Here are two stories that may be helpful.

I worked as a marriage counsellor with a married couple where the man was
also a drug addict.  Several years later, I met the woman by chance and she
said that although they were now separated, her husband had given up drugs
and now worked as counsellor, helping other people give up drugs. She said
that the thing that had made the difference was that Mick felt that I
listened to him and valued him as a person first rather than an "addict". He
felt appreciated!

The second story is how a simple strength building exercise
http://www.nickheap.co.uk/articles.asp?ART_ID=209 helped young women with
very low self esteem develop self and mutual respect. In small groups, each
person has a turn as the focus of the group. She or he describes an event in
which she or he achieved something they felt good about. Everyone else
listens intently. Each group member tells the person above two or three
strengths she must have used to achieve it. The person adds one or two of
his own. The person states the one strength of all the ones she has heard
that she /he likes the best. If people are ready they may own this by going
round the group and saying to each person in turn "I am (e.g.)
resourceful!".

After everyone has had a turn, ask people how they feel about themselves and
the group and what they have learned.

Joy Knudson used this exercise with a group of young mothers in a
welfare-to-work programme.  They had a history of not working effectively in
groups, whether in school or on jobs, and tended to avoid true empathy or
vulnerability.  Underneath their resistance lay poor self-esteem and a lack
of belief in their own abilities to cope.  Most of their conversations and
energy revolved around what they -and everyone else - did wrong, and who
should be blamed for it.

When Joy used the "Strength Building" exercise to have them share a time
they triumphed despite their circumstances, their stories ranged from
regaining custody of a baby taken away due to drug abuse to helping their
children survive periods of homelessness.  They listened to each other
deeply and compassionately, exchanged heartfelt, affirming feedback, and
slowly realized that the ability to succeed in their stories proved they had
strengths and qualities they could access in other situations.

If this worked with this group of young people, might it work equally well
with young people who take drugs, who may also feel bad about themselves?

Best wishes

Nick