Motivational Interviewing (MI) in Pennsylvania
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a collaborative and objective-oriented therapy system for improving motivation and dedication to a certain goal. Collectively, the therapist (interviewer) and client use justifications for change led by the client to address hesitancy and turn the desired objective into reality.
It is the psychotherapist’s function, through active listening, to execute MI's core Interviewing skills and help clients avoid hesitancy, pushing them forward toward rational change.
These interviewing skills create what is known as OARS. It stands for:
Open Questions—questioning with open-ended questions
Affirmations—underscoring the positive
Reflective Listening—restating what is said
Summarize—collecting and linking what is said with the emphasis on change
The psychotherapist and client interact easily through four intersecting processes in the motivational interviewing experience below.
- Engaging—building a collaborative relationship between therapist and client
- Focusing—preserving a specific direction in change conversation
- Evoking—provoking the client's personal motivations for change
- Planning—creating a responsibility to change and creating a plan of action
The method of creating change is driven by four key elements that are at the heart of motivational interviewing:
- Partnership
- Acceptance
- Compassion
- Evocation
Motivational Interviewing is Efficient
Since motivational interviewing was first presented in the 1980s, studies have shown that it can efficiently treat a variety of mental health conditions. Research also shows that motivational interviewing is a highly strategic therapeutic vehicle for addiction recovery. However, the one weakness is that MI doesn’t work well with clients who don’t believe they have a problem. This is particularly true with high-functioning addicts or alcoholics. Since their lives have not (yet) unraveled like the prototypical substance use disorder sufferer. In this case, the client must first come to accept their addiction issues. Motivational interviewing can also productively treat a variety of behavioral health problems.
Motivational Interviewing Offers Powerful Benefits
There are quite a few reasons why motivational interviewing is found to be a commonly accepted form of behavioral health therapy. They include:
- Reinforces the client's self-confidence in themselves.
- Motivates clients to take accountability.
- Decreases the risk of future relapse.
- Prepares clients to be more receptive to addiction treatment.
- Demonstrates to clients that they can change their lives.
Motivational interviewing is remarkably positive with people who were initially reluctant to go to addiction treatment or who were not ready to change their life. Call us today at 866-470-1464 to find out if our Pennsylvania addiction programs are right for you.