The Seven Challenges – Adult

Substance Use Prevention or Treatment Does Not Currently Meet Criteria

The Seven Challenges – Adult aims to help adults decrease substance use and improve their mental health, relationships, and self-awareness. The Seven Challenges – Adult offers a specific framework for holistic life counseling that incorporates decision making based on seven main content areas: (1) communicating honestly about oneself and about alcohol and other drugs; (2) understanding why participants like and use alcohol and other drugs; (3) assessing how alcohol and drug use could be harming themselves and others; (4) assessing the responsibility of oneself and others for problems; (5) developing goals and plans for future accomplishments; (6) making thoughtful life decisions, including participants’ use of alcohol and other drugs; and, (7) following through on life decisions and decisions about drug use.


The Seven Challenges – Adult does not currently meet criteria to receive a rating because no studies of the program achieved a rating of moderate or high on design and execution.


Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed: Aug 2020


Sources

The program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information was informed by the following sources: the program website, the California Evidence-based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare, the program manual, and the studies reviewed.


This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, visit the Review Process page or download the Handbook.

Target Population

The Seven Challenges – Adult program targets adults who have substance use problems, including those with co-occurring disorders.

Dosage

The Seven Challenges – Adult program can be delivered in group or individual sessions. Counselors determine the frequency and duration of time that are appropriate for the participant needs and delivery setting. Clients and counselors also communicate in a Supportive Journaling process.

Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings

The Seven Challenges – Adult program can be delivered in a variety of settings, including outpatient clinics, residential treatment, day treatment, and in the home.

Education, Certifications and Training

The Seven Challenges – Adult program training consists of an onsite, three day initial training for counselors and clinical supervisors. Completion of this initial training qualifies an individual to provide The Seven Challenges – Adult. Counselors are then supervised by Masters’ level clinical supervisors who receive specialized training as part of a three day advanced training. Trained teams are required to meet with The Seven Challenges trainers for quarterly calls and host annual support and fidelity visits.

Program or Service Documentation
Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review

Schwebel, R. (2020). The Seven Challenges manual: Adult version. Viva Press.

Available languages

Journals for The Seven Challenges – Adult are available in English and Spanish.

Other supporting materials

Sample Material for The Seven Challenges Journal for Adults

Excerpt from Leap of Power: Take Control of Alcohol, Drugs and Your Life

Excerpt from The Seven Challenges Manual: Adult version

For More Information

Website: http://www.sevenchallenges.com/

Phone: (520) 405-4559

Email: sconner@sevenchallenges.com


Note: The details on Dosage; Location; Education, Certifications, and Training; Other Supporting Materials; and For More Information sections above are provided to website users for informational purposes only. This information is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.

Results of Search and Review Number of Studies Identified and Reviewed for The Seven Challenges – Adult
Identified in Search 1
Eligible for Review 1
Rated High 0
Rated Moderate 0
Rated Low 1
Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm 0

Sometimes study results are reported in more than one document, or a single document reports results from multiple studies. Studies are identified below by their Prevention Services Clearinghouse study identification numbers. To receive a rating of supported or well-supported, the favorable evidence for a program or service must have been obtained from research conducted in a usual care or practice setting.


Studies Rated Low

Study 10579

Korchmaros, J. D. (2018). The Seven Challenges Comprehensive Counseling Program: Effectiveness for adults with substance use problems. Journal of Drug Issues, 48(4), 590-607. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022042618783995

This study received a low rating because it did not meet design confound standards.