K: Motivational Enhancement Therapy and CBT for Adolescent Cannabis Users

This presentation will present an overview of Motivational Enhancement Therapy/Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: 5 Sessions (MET/CBT5), an evidence-based intervention developed to treat adolescents engaged in cannabis use. MET/CBT5 combines motivational enhancement therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy in a brief, five-session treatment intervention. The first two sessions utilize Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) in individual sessions to focus on factors that motivate clients to change and to help each client identify the client’s own specific reasons for considering change. The following three sessions are delivered in a group format, using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients learn skills to cope with problems and meet their needs in ways that do not involve turning to marijuana or alcohol. Developmental and cultural considerations for this intervention will be discussed.

Melissa Grady Ambrose, LCSW-C

Project Director and Training Director for Substance Use Initiatives

University of Maryland School of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry

Melissa Grady Ambrose, LCSW-C received her MSW from Virginia Commonwealth University and has over 20 years of direct clinical and supervisory experience working with children and families. For fourteen years Ms. Ambrose provided school-based mental health services through the University of Maryland School Mental Health Program working with students in grades K-12. She specialized in working with high-risk youth, including youth with substance use concerns. Melissa currently serves as the Training Director for Substance Use Initiatives at the NCSMH, and Project Director for Maryland Family and Youth Interventions for Substance Use (Maryland FYI). Ms. Ambrose is the Maryland state trainer for the Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA), an evidence based program to treat adolescent substance use, as well as a trainer for Screening, Brief Intervention & Referral to Treatment (SBIRT).

Kristina Floyd, LCSW-C

Lead Counselor and Clinical Trainer

Mrs. Floyd has provided direct clinical services, supervision, case management, and consultations to children, their families, and colleagues within non-public and public school systems since 2009. She is currently a lead clinician and clinical trainer supporting multiple projects within the National Center for School Mental Health. Mrs. Floyd has a Certificate in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, is a board approved supervisor for social workers and is a state-wide trainer for Botvin LifeSkills. She has presented at local, state, and national levels on evidenced-based curriculums and other issues related to school mental health. From 2015-2021, Mrs. Floyd worked for the Association of Social Work Boards as a subject matter expert to write and develop questions for the Masters level national social work exam using current, evidenced-based references and resources. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work.

Sylvia McCree-Huntley, EdD

Project Coordinator, Strengthening Families Program

Sylvia McCree-Huntley, EdD is the Project Coordinator of the Strengthening Families Program and also serves as the Director of Professional Development and Training at the Maryland Family & Youth Interventions for Substance Use, National Center for School Mental Health, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry.