Scales - Resource One

9. What approach should I take?

The way you approach your patient can have a significant impact on your conversation.

• Take a supportive, non-confrontational, non-judgemental approach
• Be empathetic and empower the patient to recognise the risks and benefits of their drinking patterns
• Motivate and support the individual to adjust their lifestyle but respect the patient’s ability and responsibility for determining what’s best for themselves
• Expect ambivalence (patients having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas), it is at the core of patient resistance to change but try to clarify and resolve that ambivalence
• Stay authoritative, assertive and calm

• Try not to persuade, entice or scare as that is likely to have negative impact