What is Motivational Interviewing?
“If you treat an individual as he is, he will stay as he is, but if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be” -Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Motivational Interviewing is about having effective conversations. These conversations are collaborative, focusing on and strengthening the client’s own motivation and commitment for change. (Miller & Rollnick, Motivational Interviewing, 3rd Edition)
Making changes is not always easy. Especially when you are unsure or ambivalent about a change. Being unsure is not necessarily a bad thing. Everyone faces decisions in which there are no clear or obvious “right” and “wrong” choices. Think of a decision that you’ve been thinking about for some time which you haven’t yet decided upon because you’re not quite sure yet what you’ll do. It could be the decision to quit smoking, a decision to buy a gym membership and start exercising, or even a decision to leave your job. There could be a variety of reasons why you haven’t decided yet. Perhaps the pros of this decision don’t yet outweigh the cons!? Perhaps you’ve been so busy that you haven’t invested a great deal of thought or planning into what you would need to make this change work. Perhaps you’re anxious or afraid of the various “unknown’s” that may come along with this decision. These reasons may indeed be reasonable. My hesitancy about buying that new car that I’m not sure how I’ll pay for may indeed be a good thing keeping me back from making a poor impulsive decision. On the other hand, many other changes are healthy and helpful and are awaiting you. Perhaps all you need is someone to walk with you through some of the questions about this unsure decision!
Strengthen Commitment, Resolve Ambivalence: Motivational Interviewing therapists help clients to bring their uncertainty into awareness, and thus, help them resolve it. Once you become clearer in your mind and in your resolve regarding a decision, your motivation will increase and be strengthened; you will be empowered with more tools to accomplish whatever productive goals may enhance your life.
Planning: Motivational Interviewing involves planning the process of change through the development of goals and action plans which are manageable and realistic, clear, and rewarding.
Addictions: Motivational Interviewing can be especially helpful for people struggling with addictions but who are not totally sure yet about making the step towards sobriety and recovery.
Joshua Adams, R.Psych
Authentic Psychology