Changes in College Students’ Readiness to Change Scores Following a Substance Abuse Assessment-Interview With a Counselor-in-Training

Through use of the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scales (SOCRATES), this study measured the impact of a comprehensive substance abuse assessment in 25 clients on three measures: problem recognition, ambivalence, and taking steps. Each assessment was administered by a counselor-in-training located in a college counseling training clinic. Results from two years of data showed a significant decrease in ambivalence and problem recognition measures following the assessment experience. Research indicates that lowered ambivalence and lowered problem recognition are both related to lowered problems in use in the future. Given the extent of problems with substance abuse with college students, this type of interview may contribute to a reduction of future use. Narrative feedback indicated that the counseling relationship was a positive part of the assessment experience. Further investigations to enhance significance of the findings are discussed.