Recovery is rarely straightforward. People who are working to change their relationship with substances almost always experience periods of ambivalence — wanting to stop or reduce, while also wanting to continue. This is not weakness or lack of willpower. It is the normal experience of trying to change something that has served important functions, often for a very long time.
This module focuses specifically on ambivalence in recovery — how it shows up, why it is so persistent, and how workers can engage with it skillfully rather than trying to argue around it or override it. It builds on the foundations of Motivational Interviewing and the Stages of Change, applying those frameworks specifically to the context of substance use and recovery.
This is a Developing-level module within Subject 6: Substance Use and Recovery.