How to Implement Contingency Management Principles to Increase Treatment Outcomes in Addiction

Bailey MacLeod

PhD, LCMHC

May 15, 2026, 10:30 AM-12:00 PM (EST)

Session Description

Contingency management (CM) is the use of incentives to enhance motivation for treatment and facilitate recovery. Based in behavioral principles, contingency management provides reinforcers for recovery-congruent behaviors that form the foundation for most treatment programs (e.g., treatment attendance, negative drug/alcohol screenings, 12-step meeting attendance). The approach can be used as an adjunct to a program’s existing therapeutic models, making it more likely to be adopted. Contingency management has been shown in the research to improve treatment outcomes for a variety of populations (e.g., unhoused individuals, dual-diagnosis) and substances (e.g., cocaine, heroin, methadone); however, it is underutilized in clinical settings due to lack of information on the approach. This presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of contingency management and concrete steps for implementing the approach in existing treatment programs.

Presenter

Dr. Bailey MacLeod is a licensed clinical mental health counselor (LCMHC) and Counselor Educator who specializes in addiction, multicultural counseling, and OCD. She received her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Central Florida and her PhD in Counseling from UNC Charlotte. Currently, Dr. MacLeod is the owner of BPM Counseling, PLLC, a private practice in Davidson, NC where she focuses on the mental health and wellness of adults, couples, and adolescents. She is also an instructor in the Department of Applied Psychology at NYU and in the Department of Counseling at UNC Charlotte. Her teaching includes various topics, including basic and advanced counseling techniques, addiction, counseling theories, group dynamics, diagnosis, and abnormal psychology. She continues to present on various topics in the counseling profession at state, regional, and national conferences.

Questions?

Please contact Dr. Natalie Ricciutti at nricciut@charlotte.edu or 704-687-8960 if you have questions regarding the program.

Please contact Dr. Jordan Z. Boyd at jboyd44@charlotte.edu if you have questions regarding registration.