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What is Motivational Interviewing, and How Can It Help Me?

We often get asked, “What is Motivational Interviewing​?”. So, in this article, we’re going to outline and explain Motivational Interviewing and why it’s a common technique used by our team of counsellors at Holyoake to help you or your loved ones with alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems​.

Motivational Interviewing Defined

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a goal-oriented, client-centred counselling style designed to facilitate intrinsic motivation for behaviour change. Unlike traditional approaches that may impose change on the client, MI focuses on exploring and resolving ambivalence. This means that instead of telling you what to do, your counsellor will help you uncover your own reasons for wanting to change. Rooted in the principles of humanistic psychology, MI aims to increase your motivation by evoking your personal reasons for change, making the process more meaningful and sustainable.

Motivational Interviewing Defined​

You may have heard people described as being ‘in denial’ or unmotivated about their drug use problems. In contrast, Motivational Interviewing (also known as MI) acknowledges that many people with AOD problems feel ambivalent about changing their behaviour as there are both good and less good aspects associated with the behaviour.

MI builds upon principles from behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy, emphasising goal-directed interaction and resolution of ambivalence in clients.

At the heart of Motivational Interviewing is a counselling style that addresses:

Most crucially, Motivational Interviewing explores a person’s motivation to change. “Motivational interviewing is a person-centred style for addressing the common problem of ambivalence about change” (Miller & Rollnick 2013, p 21). Change talk is a critical element in evoking a client’s self-motivational statements and readiness to change.

This approach has been used extensively in the alcohol and other drug field and has been adapted for use across a wide range of other problem areas such as diet, exercise, management of cardiovascular disease, gambling and other risk behaviours. Counsellors use specific strategies to elicit change talk, such as open-ended questions and reflecting on discrepancies between current behaviour and desired goals.

To understand the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing, it is important to understand why people use alcohol and other drugs. Reasons can vary from person to person and situation to situation. Important factors include changing one’s mood, being sociable, helping to relax, to celebrate, to have fun, and for enjoyment and pleasure.

Alcohol can also be used symbolically, e.g. to celebrate an anniversary or to signal the end of the working day or week. Other motivating factors include feeling sad, lonely, bored, depressed, in pain or an inability to cope with other problems. A significant reason why people may use AOD is to help them cope with a range of symptoms associated with experiencing traumatic events.

Motivational Interviewing Techniques Facilitating Behaviour Change

Motivational Interviewing employs a variety of techniques designed to facilitate behaviour change by tapping into your own motivation and commitment. Some of the key techniques include:

  • Open-ended questions: These questions encourage you to explore your thoughts and feelings in depth, rather than giving simple “yes” or “no” answers. For example, “What are some reasons you might want to change your drinking habits?”
  • Reflective listening: This involves your counsellor reflecting back your words to ensure they understand you correctly and to help you clarify your thoughts. For instance, “It sounds like you’re feeling conflicted about quitting smoking because it helps you relax.”
  • Affirmations: Positive statements that acknowledge your strengths and efforts, boosting your motivation and self-efficacy. An example might be, “It’s great that you’re thinking about how your drinking affects your family.”
  • Summarising: Your counsellor will summarise key points from your discussions to help you see the bigger picture and ensure mutual understanding. For example, “So far, we’ve talked about how drinking helps you cope with stress but also causes problems at work.”

Practical Techniques to Encourage and Support Change

The techniques used in Motivational Interviewing are practical and effective in encouraging and supporting behaviour change. By asking open-ended questions, your counsellor helps you delve deeper into your motivations and goals. Reflective listening ensures that you feel heard and understood, while affirmations build your confidence in your ability to change. Summarising helps you see the progress you’ve made and the steps you need to take next. Together, these techniques create a supportive environment where you can explore your thoughts and feelings, identify your motivations, and develop a plan for achieving lasting behaviour change.

What You Can Expect from Holyoake

At Holyoake, we understand that if you are struggling with the symptoms of trauma or are having other problems in your life, using alcohol and or other drugs may assist you in managing these issues.

Motivational Interviewing is an evidence-based approach employed by Holyoake that enables you to have a collaborative conversation with your counsellor to address your AOD use and any problems.

You will be provided with a safe, supportive, and therapeutic environment in which you will feel empowered, with the choice to explore issues how and when you are ready to do so.

Using Motivational Interviewing, counsellors will be interested in understanding your perspective of why you are using AODs.

A key focus of the counselling work will be to address any ambivalence you experience with regard to your AOD use. There is a recognition that you are not in ‘denial’ or unmotivated. In fact, you may be highly motivated to stay the same and not change at all.

Counsellors will respond non-judgmentally, with compassion and empathy to the struggles you may be experiencing in trying to change your AOD use. You will work together with your counsellor in an equal partnership. You will be encouraged to consider the benefits of change and the problems and concerns you have about not changing. Ultimately however, your counsellor will respect and accept that it is your decision about whether you are ready to make any changes.

The Spirit and Principles of Motivational Interviewing

The spirit of MI recognises that there are both positive and negative aspects associated with your AOD use. At Holyoake, counsellors will not try to coerce or persuade you to change your drug use behaviour. The emphasis will be on understanding your perspective.

Counsellors acknowledge that you are already aware of and struggling with the arguments both for and against change. They know that if they strongly voice the pros of change, someone who is ambivalent about their AOD use will present the other side of the argument, the cons of change. As you voice your reasons for staying the same, you will be consolidating your position. (Mental Health Guidelines, 2019.)

Counsellors at Holyoake will work to establish a therapeutic and helpful relationship with you, developing a direction for you to discuss any potential change you may wish to explore. You will have an opportunity to voice your own struggles with change, acknowledging that there will be a number of reasons that support you in staying the same. You will work together to develop your commitment and any change plans.

At Holyoake, we understand the importance of enhancing and increasing your motivation to change. Motivational Interviewing provides a non-judgemental, empathic and compassionate approach that recognises the difficulties of change.

If Motivational Interviewing sounds like an approach that could help you, please get in touch with our team. We’re here to help, when you’re ready, on your terms.

References

Miller, W. R & Rollnick S. (2013) Motivational interviewing: Helping people change (3rd ed.) New York, NYT, /Guilford Press.

Stone, J., Marsh, A., Dale, A., Willis, L., O’Toole, S., Helfgott, S., Bennetts, A., Cleary, L., Ditchburn, S., Jacobson, H., Rea, R., Aitken, D., Lowery, M., Oh, G., Stark, R.,& Stevens, C. (2019). Counselling Guidelines: Alcohol and other drug issues (4th ed.). Perth, Western Australia: Mental Health Commission.