What is Motivational Interviewing Therapy?
Are you looking for an answer to what is motivational interviewing therapy? Millions of people worldwide are struggling with addictions. As per an observation by the United Nations, 35 million people in the world are suffering from disorders related to drug abuse. It is even more shocking that only 1 out of 7 people agree to seek help. Such a low ratio is because people who are addicts develop resistance to getting treatment. They do not want to quit their addictions or make a change in their behavior. In such cases, motivational interviewing therapy is used. You must be wondering what is motivational interviewing therapy is. Motivational Interviewing therapy is a counseling technique. This technique is utilized for people who are stuck in addictions and problematic behavior that stems from addictions. Now that you have got a brief introduction to what is motivational interviewing therapy, let us dive into this topic in detail. In this blog, we will discuss what is motivational interviewing therapy, its principles, goals, and techniques. Understanding What Is Motivational Interviewing Therapy The approach of motivational interviewing therapy is adapted to help people in making a change in their behavior. This approach is particularly helpful for those patients who are hesitant to decide whether they want to change their behavior. The Spirit of Motivational Interviewing Now that you have understood what is motivational interviewing therapy, let us understand its spirit. William Miller and Stephen Rollnick developed this technique. They insisted that to ensure that the motivational interviewing therapy is successful, the therapist must ensure that they maintain the spirit of these sessions. Collaboration Instead of Confrontation In a successful session of motivational interviewing therapy, the therapist and the patient must work in collaboration or a partnership. The therapist encourages the patient to talk about their experiences instead of confronting them about their addictions. Evocation Rather Than Education The primary objective of motivational interviewing is to understand the patient’s ideas on how they want to conquer their addictions. The therapist does not impose their knowledge or their ideas on how to quit addictions. The therapist firmly believes that motivation should be internal and not forced on anyone else. Autonomy Over Authority In other methods of therapy, the therapist is considered an authoritative figure during the therapy sessions. However, during motivational interviewing, this is not the case. The patient is empowered with autonomy in their decision to quit and the recovery process. It is no secret that any change is initiated from within. Motivational interviewing therapy encourages the initiation of change from the patient. By now, we believe that you have understood the idea of what is motivational interviewing therapy. Let us now discuss what is motivational interviewing therapy in psychology. What is Motivational Interviewing Therapy in Psychology? If you are wondering what is motivational interviewing therapy in psychology, then we have got you covered. Although motivational interviewing therapy strongly advocates the process of change coming from the patient, it also follows the 5 principles of psychology as discussed below: Reciprocity: The patient and the therapist must reciprocate in making an effort to help the patient quit his addiction. Consistency: The therapist must be consistently patient throughout the therapy sessions. Engagement: Therapy is a two-way process. The patient and the therapist should engage in conversations that motivate the patient to change for the better. Acceptance: Therapy should be a safe space for the patient and the therapist should accept that the patients must set their own pace for their recovery. Motivation: Motivational enhancement therapy is a concept that believes that the desire to change for the better should come from within and not from an external force. Motivational interviewing therapy is exceptionally helpful in cases where the patient is unsure whether they want to quit their addictions or not. In some cases, the patient does not want to change their behavior or quit their addictions because they seek temporary comfort from alcohol and substances when they face their triggers. A successful motivational interviewing therapy session will make the patient aware of their shortcomings. The therapist deeply assesses the patient and their past. This assessment is done to understand the patient’s triggers that lead them to addictions. The patient is made aware of the impact their addictions have on their near and dear ones. The therapist shows the patient how their life will change for the better once they quit their addictions. This encourages the patient to aspire towards giving up their addictions. They become readily available to join programs that help them to do the same. What is Motivational Interviewing Therapy in Counseling? Motivational interviewing is a counseling technique used on patients to grow their motivation to change. The therapist applies the principles of counseling to ensure that this growth or enhancement takes place. The therapist follows the person-centered approach of Carl Rogers in motivational therapy sessions. In an efficient motivational therapy session, the therapist will stick to the following principles of psychology: The needs of the patient are more important than the goals of the therapist. The patient naturally starts accepting the process of change. The role of the therapist is limited to facilitating the same. The patients have autonomy over decisions in their lives. The therapist does not force change on the patient. The therapist helps the client in unlocking their strengths and their willpower. The therapist understands the patient’s history of abuse and the perspective that stems out of their history. What is motivational interviewing therapy used for? Now that you have understood the power of motivational interviewing therapy, you must be wondering what is motivational interviewing therapy used for. Motivational interviewing therapy was initially used for treating disorders related to alcoholism and substance abuse. This was facilitated by enabling the patients to change their behavior which led to alcoholism and substance abuse. However, motivational interviewing therapy is also useful in treating many other disorders apart from alcoholism and substance abuse disorders. Smoking: Motivational interviewing therapy helps address smoking and nicotine addiction. More often than