Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Motivational Interviewing in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder in a College Woman: A Case Study

Abstract

Alcohol abuse is common among college students. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is widely supported as a treatment of alcohol abuse. However, little research has examined how ACT may be paired with other techniques traditionally applied to treat substance abuse, such as motivational interviewing (MI). This clinical case study describes the use of ACT and MI to facilitate treatment of a 20-year-old woman who was referred for treatment for alcohol abuse. The client remained in treatment in spite of her initial self-reported belief that treatment was unnecessary. At follow-up, the client reported increased present moment awareness, particularly of her drinking habits, and demonstrated the ability to behave in ways consistent with her values. At the completion of treatment, the client reported fewer episodes of alcohol consumption and less severe drinking. Implications of these findings are discussed, with an emphasis on the potential benefits of pairing MI techniques with ACT.