Table 1.

Sample Interview Guide(s).

Patient/Partner	Mental Health Expert
1. Describe purpose of study: “This is a study examining what makes it hard to get into treatment (alcohol treatment/couples treatment/couples treatment for alcohol).
2. Establish rapport: Since you were asked to participate in this project because you/your partner was in treatment, I'd like to start by hearing a little bit (more) about your experience with treatment. In particular, I am interested in your experience with treatment for alcohol use. Have you ever been in treatment before? Have you ever been in couples' treatment?
3. Initiate discussion on treatment: “What do you think makes it hard to get into treatment (for alcohol problems)?”	2. Initiate discussion on barriers: “What do you think are some of the central barriers to entry into couples' treatment/treatment of alcohol problems?”
3/4. Transition to discussion of couples treatment for alcohol: “Given research supporting outcomes for couples' treatment for alcohol problems, I am also very interested in barriers to getting into couples' treatment for alcohol problems.”
5. Barriers to entry into couples treatment for alcohol: What might make it difficult to seek this treatment? Have you ever considered entering couples' therapy for treatment of alcohol problems? If couples' therapy for alcohol problems was offered to you, what are reasons that you might not accept it? Are there other issues regarding barriers to entry into couples' treatment of alcohol problems you would like to raise?	4. Barriers to entry into couples treatment for alcohol: What might make it difficult to seek this treatment? Are there other issues regarding barriers to entry into couples' treatment of alcohol problems you would like to raise?
Probes: And what other barriers might there be? What might encourage you/your partner/patients to seek treatment?