Motivational Interviewing: A Psychological Analysis

Psychologists William Miller, PhD. and Stephen Rollnick, PhD. developed the counseling approach known as Motivational Interviewing (MI). Motivational Interviewing evolved out of experience in the treatment of persons who were problem drinkers, and was first described by Miller in 1983. In 1991 Miller and Rollnick provided these techniques as a method that promotes and engages intrinsic motivation within the client in order to change behavior. MI is a client-centered counseling style that is goal -directed and brings about behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. Traditional Rogerian client-centered therapy does not guide or direct or focus in the way that MI therapists do to influence individuals to consider making changes, instead of non-directively explore themselves.

Motivational interviewing is a way of conducting and occupy the essential motivation within the client in order to change behavior. It is “an efficient and collaborative style of clinical interaction that can boost the effectiveness of the therapeutic alliance” (Jellinek, Henderson, Dilallo, & Weiss, 2009, p.108). Motivational

The idea of motivational interviewing builds on Rogers' theories about people having freedom of choice and changing through the process of self-actualisation (Davidson, 1994). Miller and Rollnik (1991) describe it as a technique in which the heath practitioner becomes a helper in the change process while expressing acceptance of their client. A central goal of motivational interviewing, says Geldard & Geldard (2012), is to help resolve the ambivalence which prevents clients from realising their personal goals and to facilitate positive change. Motivational interviewing is mostly utilised to counsel those troubled by addiction (not just substance, but also behaviours).

Motivational interviewing is a practice wherein conveying acceptance of your client, you become an aid in the process of change. Motivational interviewing fosters Carl Rogers ' optimistic and humanistic theories; around ones competences for employing free choice and shifting through a course of self-actualization. The therapeutic relationship for both Motivational Interviewers and Rogerians’ is a democratic partnership. The concept of Motivational Interviewing (MI) progressed from the experience of treating problem drinkers. Motivational Interviewing was first described by William R. Miller, Ph.D., in 1983.

The process of motivational interviewing is essentially about creating "intrinsic motivation to change" within the client (Moyers, 1998). The choice to change must originate with the client and the process for helping this occur begins with motivational interviewing. There are two phases within motivational interviewing, the first focuses on increasing the client’s motivation to change and the second phase is negotiating a plan and consolidating commitment. It is important to understand the traps that can be encountered within this process, such as the question/answer trap. In this trap the client is led by the counselor with little chance to have free speech to explain themselves because the counselor is just focused on the next question instead of focusing on where the client is leading them. This trap is very similar to the expert trap in the fact that the client is left to believe they cannot find answers for themselves; they instead must listen to the expert who is giving them the answers. This is most definitely not the way to motivate a client to make changes for themselves. Other traps include premature focus, denial, labeling, and blaming; all of which can prevent the client from opening up in the treatment process.

The concept of motivational interviewing evolved from experience in the treatment of problem drinkers, and was first described by Miller (1983) in an article published in Behavioral Psychotherapy. These fundamental concepts and approaches were later elaborated by Miller and Rollnick (1991) in a more detailed description of clinical procedures. Motivational interviewing is a semi-directive, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. Compared with non-directive counseling, it 's more focused and goal-directed. Motivational Interviewing is a method that works on facilitating and engaging intrinsic motivation within the client in order to change behavior. The examination and resolution of ambivalence is a central purpose, and the counselor is intentionally directive in pursuing this goal.

Combined Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy with Older Adult Drug and Alcohol Abusers is an article written by Lyle Cooper concerning the abuse or misuse of illicit drugs, prescription medications, and alcohol in older populations. Due to lack of knowledge or resources, elderly individuals are falling victim to substance use problems and the numbers are projected to rise. Therefore, an assistance program called HeLP was created to provide evidence-based treatment to the specific cohort of 50 and up age range. Motivational interviewing is used to eliminate internal uncertainties clients may have concerning their treatment; hence, opening themselves up to behavioral changes. Clients who decide to move on to the next stage and if HeLP workers deem it necessary, cognitive-behavioral therapy is implemented to promote changes in thoughts, behaviors, and prevention of future relapse.

So how does an addicted individual escape addiction? Miller (1998) argues that there can be a sudden shift in how the person perceives the pros and cons of their behavior. This is often seen over time as the suffering directly attached to the addiction increases and the ratio of pros and cons shifts. Through motivational interviewing, Miller suggests that therapists and other helping professionals can lend clients another perspective, a mirror image of themselves, so as to increase the client's conception of the consequences and saliency of their

How Addiction Happens, How Change Happens, and What Social Workers Need to Know to Be Effective Facilitators of Change is an article written by Jill Littrell. Littrell addresses the complexity of underlying physiological demands made on patients throughout the addiction and treatment process. Even if a patient has whole heartedly committed themselves to their sobriety , physiological components of the brain can unknowingly trigger the need to use. Therefore, the trans-theoretical theory with the motivational interviewing approach are believed to help clients experience less resistance and be more open to change by learning why they want or need to make changes. Hence, using more direct or confrontational methods in addiction treatment could

Motivational interviewing is a counseling approach that was studied and understood as an applicable theory of practice that would be beneficial in the environment where I currently work which is an alcohol treatment facility. Whereas, it is understood that clinical and applied aspects of Motivational Interviewing (MI) have shown effective as a relatively brief intervention (Levensky, Cavasos, & Brooks, 2008), especially those dealing with an alcohol dependency. According to Miller and Roderick, MI, has been defined mostly as a directive, client centered counseling approach for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. In addition, with its goal-orientated approach it can help break down resistance to change (Corey, 2013, pp. 191-194). This theoretical approach is the most favored for the environment in my profession of choice, in addition, integrating it with the practice of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which is already in use.

When it comes to drug useage many aspects of a person life changes, especially their behavior and brain. Sheff (2013) mentions how the brain changes as a result of drug usage. The hardwiring changes so that the impulse control is lowered, almost silenced, while the desire to get a reward is in overdrive. After a while, it isnt about willpower but about doing what your changed brain tells you to do. In some cases, behavior needs to be modified as behavior is what altered the brain in the first place. When attempting recovery, the idea is to work on that behavior modification. During this time, the technique called Motivational interviewing is helpful in exploring with the client what their motivation is for making this change in their life.

The thought behind Motivational Interviewing is that all individuals dealing with addiction are at least partially aware of the negative consequences of drug abuse and addiction. Each individual is also currently in a certain stage of readiness when it comes to changing their behavior. The MI therapist facilitates the process of getting ready to change by overcoming ambivalence or a fear of change, increasing the client’s own

Motivational interviewing was first described in the 1980’s and has since become increasingly popular. It was originally defined as a “directive, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence.” Currently, motivational interviewing is a commonly utilized, scientifically tested and validated method that is used in various counseling practices and health care settings. Rubak and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of empirical literature on the topic of motivational interviewing. With the goal of evaluating the degree to which motivational interviewing is applicable and efficacious, they reviewed 72 Randomized-Control Trials.

Jacob volunteers as the college and career pastor with the Grace Place church in Arlington, but also desires his church to reach beyond the walls and influence college students at both the TCC Southeast campus and The University of Texas at Arlington. After studying for one year at the University of Texas at Arlington, he transferred to Southwestern Assemblies of God University where he completed a Church Ministries. For this profile, I will focus on the stated goal of seeing the church influence local college students; empowering and encouraging Jacob to engage current TCC Southeast students attending the Grace Place in the local ministry and leveraging these relationships to expand his campus network.

Motivational Interviewing (MI) refers to a client centred counselling approach, which is directed to enhance motivation in an individual for behaviour change Miller & Rollnick (as cited in Christopher & Dougher, 2009). MI as a method understands and accepts that the clients are at different levels of readiness to change their behavior. It consistently focuses on goals to prepare the client for transformation by providing motivation for commitment to change (Bricker & Tollison, 2011) in the domains of substance abuse, addiction and risky health problems. It proceeds to make the client aware of the causes, consequences and risks that could be a result of the behavior. Through this, the client foresees the possibilities of enhancement and becomes motivated to achieve it (Jenson, Cushing, Aylward, Craig, Sorell & Steel, 2011). MI is coherent with the