Motivational Interviewing

Deciding to get help for a substance abuse problem is only the beginning. Sobriety is a choice that people need to make every day and especially when treatment first begins, finding the motivation behind this choice can be a challenge. Motivational interviewing is one way to help those who are struggling along the way.

What Is Motivational Interviewing?

Motivational interviewing is a therapy technique that looks to elicit change in those whose behaviors are hindering their progress in achieving a certain goal. A motivational interviewer will help the patient discover what is holding them back from making these changes and help them find the motivation to overcome these obstacles. Motivational interviewing techniques can help those with physical health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and substance abuse disorders.

There are seven key components of motivational interviewing that our substance abuse treatment center follows:

  1. Motivation comes from the client, not from other people or sources.
  2. The client is responsible for resolving their uncertainty, not the therapist.
  3. Persuasion cannot resolve ambivalence or uncertainty; the person must want to change.
  4. The counselor quietly and gently draws information from the patient.
  5. The counselor guides the patient in recognizing their uncertainty and resolving it.
  6. Readiness to change is a fluctuating result of interpersonal interaction; it’s not a trait.
  7. The client-counselor relationship should be a partnership.

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Motivational Interviewing Techniques

The therapist or counselor actively listens to the client's experiences and challenges during a motivational interview session. A strong therapeutic relationship is formed by the therapist exhibiting empathy and understanding, which encourages openness and trust. A perception of disparity between the client's present conduct and their desired aims or values is another goal of MI. People can identify the gaps between where they are and where they aspire to be thanks to this gentle examination of ambivalence, which opens the door to transformation.

Other techniques applied by the therapist in this treatment approach include:

  • Roll with resistance: Accept resistance as a necessary component of the change process rather than fighting or addressing it and utilize reflective listening to delve deeper into the client's worries.
  • Support self-efficacy: To increase the client's self-assurance and faith in their capacity to make positive changes and emphasize their attributes and past achievements.
  • Apply reflective listening: Pay attention to the client's remarks, paraphrase them, and mirror their feelings to show that you understand them and to promote self-reflection.
  • Ask open-ended questions: Encourage the client to go into more detail about their ideas, emotions, and motives to encourage deeper investigation and understanding.
  • Collaborative goal setting: Create goals with the client that are relevant, achievable, and consistent with their beliefs to encourage ownership and commitment.
  • Summarize and reinforce: To increase the client's commitment to change, regularly recap their statements, highlighting their reasons, objectives, and development.
  • Positive affirmations: To increase a client's drive and self-esteem, give them good feedback and acknowledge their accomplishments.
  • Elicit change talk: Encourage the client to express their needs, justifications, and resolve to change verbally to help them feel more motivated to act.

In conclusion, motivational interviewing strategies emphasize creating a solid therapeutic partnership, examining gaps between current behavior and goals, resolving resistance with empathy, and fostering self-efficacy. By applying these ideas, therapists can provide a motivating and encouraging environment that encourages positive development in their patients.

Motivational Interviewing Questions for Substance Abuse

Practitioners of motivational interviewing addiction services often ask questions that can be particularly useful when addressing substance abuse.

These questions may include:

  • Can you tell me about a time when you considered reducing or quitting drugs or alcohol? What motivated that thought?
  • How do you feel your drug or alcohol use is impacting your career and personal life?
  • In an ideal world, where do you see yourself in terms of drug or alcohol use one year from now?
  • What are the pros and cons of continuing your current drug or alcohol use?
  • What are your goals for the future, and how does your current drug or alcohol use align with those goals?
  • What concerns or fears do you have about seeking detox or addiction treatment?
  • What support systems or resources do you have in place to help you address your drug or alcohol use?

These questions are designed to encourage self-reflection and exploration of personal motivations, values, and goals, all within the context of addressing substance abuse.

Motivation & Addiction Recovery

Just because a patient is in our rehab doesn’t necessarily mean that they are ready to take all the steps necessary to get and stay sober. Some people are pushed by their loved ones to enter treatment, and now that they are left to stand on their own, their motivation to keep going is lacking. Other times, one setback in treatment could destroy a patient’s confidence and derail their progress. If this lack of motivation continues, it can severely hinder or even halt the recovery process. Those unable to overcome these internal hurdles may never find lasting sobriety.

Along with helping patients find the motivation they need to continue their recovery journey, there are several benefits of motivational interviewing for substance abuse including:

  • Giving patients more self-confidence
  • Letting patients talk through their addiction problems
  • Increasing self-awareness
  • Visualization of a future without drugs or alcohol
  • Making patients more receptive to other treatment methods and mental health care
  • Triggering necessary lifestyle changes surrounding addiction recovery
  • Decreasing the risk of relapse
  • Helping patients realize the source of their distress
  • Teaching patients how to identify and cope with negative thoughts and emotions

Benefits of MI for Veterans and Military Personnel

Motivational interviewing offers a wide range of benefits for veterans and active-duty personnel battling addiction or mental illness:

  • Addressing Ambivalence: Veterans and active-duty personnel often struggle with seeking treatment for addiction and mental health issues due to a culture valuing self-reliance. Motivational Interviewing (MI) helps by addressing their mixed feelings about change in a non-confrontational manner.
  • Trauma-Informed Approach: Many veterans and active-duty members face addiction or mental health issues due to traumatic service experiences. MI's empathetic and understanding approach aligns with trauma-informed care, helping clients feel safe and supported in their recovery.
  • Respecting Independence: MI acknowledges the importance of autonomy and choice in the change process, which is especially critical for military personnel accustomed to making high-stakes decisions. MI specialists respect their autonomy while gently guiding them toward healthier choices.
  • Enhancing Treatment Engagement: Veterans and active-duty personnel may avoid treatment due to stigma or career concerns. MI helps by fostering a collaborative, non-judgmental relationship, encouraging greater engagement in treatment.
  • Overcoming Barriers: Co-occurring disorders or comorbidities are common among military personnel, mainly because drugs and alcohol are often used to self-medicate mental health issues stemming from trauma exposure. For individuals with co-occurring disorders, navigating complex treatment systems can be overwhelming. MI can help veterans and military personnel identify and address the specific barriers that may be preventing them from accessing the care they need.

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Our Motivational Interviewing Telehealth Programs

Through our innovative telehealth platform, we have seamlessly integrated the principles of Motivational interviewing, offering individuals a dynamic and personalized approach to positive behavior change. Beyond the realm of general mental health, our telehealth addiction treatment programs exemplify our commitment to addressing the complexities of substance use disorders in a virtual setting.

Moreover, our dedication extends to the treatment of multiple mental health disorders, ensuring that our programs cater to diverse needs and contribute to comprehensive well-being. Banyan Telehealth's approach not only embraces the evolving landscape of digital healthcare but also showcases our unwavering commitment to providing accessible, effective, and empathetic support to individuals on their journey to recovery and positive transformation.

Motivational Interviewing for Addiction Treatment

Addiction recovery is challenging. Many people will find their progress stalls during treatment or are not seeing the drastic changes they hoped for. Because of these hurdles, we use motivational interviewing to help our patients overcome these challenges that may be holding them back during the recovery process.

Patients at our treatment center will work one-on-one with a trained therapist in a safe and judgment-free environment. The therapists will facilitate the conversation in a way that allows the patient to explore the obstacles that are preventing them from making more progress in their journey. Over time, the patient will find the confidence and motivation they need to overcome these obstacles and see more drastic results.

At Banyan, we also believe that addiction is a complex problem that requires a multifaceted solution. Because of its intricacies, our patients will participate in various rehab therapies and programming like motivational interviewing for addiction to aid them in the recovery process.

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Together, these programs, activities, and evidence-based practices will help them work through the numerous aspects of their substance abuse problem and greatly reduce the risk of relapse after treatment is over.

If you or a loved one is battling drug or alcohol addiction, motivational interviewing can nudge you in the right direction. Contact us for more information about our Motivational Interviewing service and other drug and alcohol rehab programs.  Call us today to get started (855) 908-0663.

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Sources:

McGill https://www.mcgill.ca/familymed/files/familymed/motivational_counseling.pdf