Creating Abundance Today
Motivational Interviewing
If you--or a family member--have been struggling with problems of addiction or other self-destructive behavior, you may want to consider a treatment called motivational interviewing. A number of patients have reported success using this method, and this therapy may be coupled with other treatments as well.
According to the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, motivational interviewing is a "directive, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence." This means that the counselor allows the patient to figure out the reason for their problems, and in a sense, diagnose themselves. The therapy is very goal-oriented, so patients are very clear about what they are trying to accomplish before they begin treatment.
Motivational interviewing is also an incentive program in that the counselor reminds the patient of the factors that will help them to change their life. For instance, if the patient is drinking heavily every day, they may need to be gently reminded that this will impair their performance at work, and could result in the loss of their job. Or, if the patient has a gambling problem, stating that this addiction could mean the loss of family is part of therapy, since financial irresponsibility is the cause for many divorces.
When it comes to motivational interviewing, it is up to the patient or client to voice why they are angry or ambivalent. This way, the patient will not be able to claim that they are 'being told what to do' and resist counseling. It is up to the counselor to provide motivation by giving the patient a safe and non-judgmental environment to communicate in during sessions. Ambivalence can take a number of forms, from patients being loud and rebellious, to quietly refusing to respect authority. Some people are not quite sure why they exhibit these types of behaviors, but when they are allowed to answer questions about their bad habits without interruption, the answers will come.
It is also important for both the client and patient to realize that the readiness to change is not a trait, but a result of a willingness to adjust behavior. This means that changing may be not natural, and there will likely be some setbacks on the road to recovery. However, motivational interviewing can help patients to realize why their drinking is out of control, or why getting angry often is not a way to resolve issues. The relationship between the therapist and the client should be more of a partnership than an expert/recipient one, and this will help the client not to feel intimidated when making major life changes. Freedom of choice is especially encouraged using this type of treatment, which is why it has worked so well for so many people.
If you--or a family member--have been struggling with problems of addiction or other self-destructive behavior, you may want to consider a treatment called motivational interviewing. A number of patients have reported success using this method, and this therapy may be coupled with other treatments as well.
According to the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, motivational interviewing is a "directive, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence." This means that the counselor allows the patient to figure out the reason for their problems, and in a sense, diagnose themselves. The therapy is very goal-oriented, so patients are very clear about what they are trying to accomplish before they begin treatment.
Motivational interviewing is also an incentive program in that the counselor reminds the patient of the factors that will help them to change their life. For instance, if the patient is drinking heavily every day, they may need to be gently reminded that this will impair their performance at work, and could result in the loss of their job. Or, if the patient has a gambling problem, stating that this addiction could mean the loss of family is part of therapy, since financial irresponsibility is the cause for many divorces.
When it comes to motivational interviewing, it is up to the patient or client to voice why they are angry or ambivalent. This way, the patient will not be able to claim that they are 'being told what to do' and resist counseling. It is up to the counselor to provide motivation by giving the patient a safe and non-judgmental environment to communicate in during sessions. Ambivalence can take a number of forms, from patients being loud and rebellious, to quietly refusing to respect authority. Some people are not quite sure why they exhibit these types of behaviors, but when they are allowed to answer questions about their bad habits without interruption, the answers will come.
It is also important for both the client and patient to realize that the readiness to change is not a trait, but a result of a willingness to adjust behavior. This means that changing may be not natural, and there will likely be some setbacks on the road to recovery. However, motivational interviewing can help patients to realize why their drinking is out of control, or why getting angry often is not a way to resolve issues. The relationship between the therapist and the client should be more of a partnership than an expert/recipient one, and this will help the client not to feel intimidated when making major life changes. Freedom of choice is especially encouraged using this type of treatment, which is why it has worked so well for so many people.