Jaime has just pled guilty to cocaine possession. At first she claimed that the drugs weren't hers but figured the judge might be lenient if he knew that she had fought with cocaine addiction since she was 14 years old. Her parents are in the public spotlight and the publicity was just too much for her to handle so she left home when she was 16, certain that she could make it on her own. After living on the streets addicted to anything she could get her hands on, she finally went back home to seek help from her parents who put her in rehab about 6 months ago. Jaime was sentenced to a $2,000 fine, 300 hours of community service, and 2 months of intensive outpatient drug treatment. Even though she is going to get help, Jamie feels like her sentence is a waste of time. Her probation officer asks a lot of questions when they meet and then starts discussing with her what her future could look like without cocaine and what steps she could take to accomplish that future. What task is the probation officer doing?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The probation officer is engaging in motivational interviewing, a counseling approach that aims to enhance an individual's motivation to change by helping them explore and resolve ambivalence about their behavior and its consequences. This is evident from the officer discussing Jaime's future without cocaine and the steps she could take to achieve that future.

Jaime Has Just Pled Guilty to Cocaine Possession