Motivational Interviewing Therapy for Addiction

What to Expect During a Motivational Therapy Session

A motivational enhancement therapy session may feel similar to other talk therapy sessions, depending on what other therapeutic modalities the practitioner uses to guide the experience.

One key exception is that, unlike some forms of therapy, motivational interviewing does not focus on certain thoughts and actions as “problems” that need to be corrected. Instead, it focuses on the strengths and inherent value that each client brings to the table and helps harness that person’s motivation to create positive behavior change.

During a motivational interviewing therapy session, a therapist may use the following techniques to help understand the client’s experiences, express empathy for their situation, and encourage behavior change:

• Open questions
• Affirmation
• Reflective listening
• Summarizing
• Exchanging information [1]

In addition, the practitioner may pay specific attention to “change talk” or the words that a client is using that either support their current behavior or support making positive changes.

By supporting the client’s ability to identify their own motivations and personal values, the motivational interviewing therapy practitioner becomes an ally as opposed to an authority figure. They can repeat a client’s own ideas and change talk back to them and facilitate behavior change through the client’s point of view instead of direct advice.

How Motivational Enhancement Therapy for Substance Abuse Supports Treatment

Motivational interviewing therapy has been shown to reduce substance abuse [3] and help individuals on the path to recovery. Its primary goal is enhancing motivation and increasing a person’s self-efficacy through the stages of change.

This approach can be especially useful for individuals experiencing any of the following:

• Mixed feelings about change.
• Doubt in their abilities to change.
• Low desire to make a change.
• Uncertainty about the benefits of change or the disadvantages of their current situation. [1]

For individuals with a substance use disorder, any or all of these conditions may be true. A newly sober person may doubt their ability to maintain abstinence from drug and alcohol use, especially if they have attempted to get sober in the past and relapsed. They may also feel out of control or powerless against their addiction and unclear about how they can find happiness or relaxation without the use of substances.

Through motivational interviewing therapy, someone recovering from a substance use disorder can start to trust themselves and their abilities again. With the support and guidance of a therapist, they can reconnect with their inner motivation, boost their self-confidence, and take charge of becoming the best and healthiest version of themselves.