Motivational interviewing is a specific counseling technique that can be useful in treating a variety of mental health concerns, including drug or alcohol addiction. It is one of several different techniques used by the counselors at Woodland Recovery Center and is included in our patients’ addiction therapy plans as appropriate. Through motivating interviewing, individual and group therapy sessions, medical care, and ongoing support, we’ve helped countless individuals and families heal.
Connect with the Woodland Recovery Center team at 662.222.2989 today to learn more about how motivational interviewing can help you break free of addiction.
What Is Motivational Interviewing?
In most addiction treatment programs, counseling will be a primary component. During individual counseling sessions, treatment professionals use different techniques to work with you and help you recover from addiction. One of the most common and effective counseling approaches is motivational interviewing.
Motivational interviewing is an acceptance-based counseling technique used in addiction treatment and other mental health programs.
Counselors who use this strategy take on the role of helping you to notice the differences between your goals and current situations, allowing you to motivate yourself and make lasting changes.
During motivational interviewing, your therapist will:
- Help you understand how you feel about your substance use
- Examine what’s led you to these actions
- Look at new ways to motivate your progress
This counseling style avoids aggressive confrontations and arguments between you and the counselor, as these can make you feel more defensive and prevent you from wanting to work collaboratively toward positive changes.
The Role of Motivational Interviewing in Addiction Treatment
Motivational interviewing is designed to help you realize your own desires to change your
harmful behaviors. Once you have a complete understanding of how your substance use disorder is affecting your life and how these consequences are at odds with your own goals and values, you’ll be more motivated to change.
Ideally, you’ll express the desire to change your behaviors on your own, and your counselor will support you as you move through the recovery process.
Motivational interviewing also encourages you to take responsibility for changing your behaviors and overcoming your addiction. Studies have shown that counseling is more effective and produces better outcomes when patients are actively involved in the process in this way.
When you engage in motivational interviewing sessions, your counselor will spend more time listening than talking.
While the counselor listens, you’ll be encouraged to talk about:
- Your struggles with substance use
- The way it affects your life
- How it is in opposition to your internal goals and values
The role of your counselor is primarily to respond to your statements and to guide you toward the realization of your own desires and ability to change.
Once you have expressed your desire to change your behavior, the counselor will act as a guide and a support as you come up with specific strategies you can use to improve your life and overcome addiction. The counselor will continue to support you as you work towards recovery.
Motivational interviewing can be used in combination with other methods of treatment to improve outcomes. In fact, if you choose an inpatient treatment program, other treatment methods will always be a part of your schedule.
Call Woodland Recovery Center to Start Motivational Interviewing
If you’re struggling with addiction and are interested in motivational interviewing or our other available behavioral therapies, the program at Woodland Recovery Center can help.
We understand that every patient is different, and we will work closely with you to design the ideal treatment plan that includes motivational interviewing or other effective therapies. Learn more about how this approach can help you overcome addiction by connecting with our team at 662.222.2989.
