How to conduct alcohol screening and counselling? Attitudes of social work professionals and their clients

Abstract

Background: Social work professionals frequently encounter clients with alcohol-related problems. However, there has been little research on how professionals or their clients argue alcohol screening and counselling should be done. The present study aimed to improve this knowledge. Social work professionals and clients were asked to comment on the following statement: Alcohol screening and counselling can be done in the right or in the wrong way. The analytical focus is on how the two parties commented on the statement and whether the professionals and their clients do this in a same way or whether there are differences between them. Methods: The study employs a qualitative attitude approach. The aim of the approach is to explore the construction of attitudes in argumentative talk. The data consist of interviews of social work professionals (N=14) and their clients (N=14). Findings: Both the professionals and the clients mainly accepted the statement and described the right way –as neutral, sensible and client-oriented– and the wrong way –as excessively structured, arrogant and judgemental. In few comments, the interviewees rejected the statement and argued that the rightness or the wrongness of any approach always depends on the context of interaction. Discussion: According to findings the professionals and the clients appear to have a common understanding of how alcohol screening and counselling should be done. The right way described bears a resemblance to empowering approaches. Besides, the findings suggest that some methods developed for alcohol screening and counselling might appear too structured for social work practice.