Substance Abuse FAQ September 2007

September 2007

Question:
I have heard people referring to motivational interviewing and Motivational Enhancement Therapy. What are they and how are they different?

Answer:
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a style, not a specific intervention. It is non-judgmental, non-confrontational, client-centered, and semi-directive. The clinician asks open-ended questions, conducts empathetic assessments, discovers clients’ beliefs, and uses reflective listening. The approach recognizes that clients who need to make changes in their lives enter counseling at different levels of readiness to change their behavior. One of the goals of the approach is to help the client to become more aware of the problem behavior and the risks and consequences associated with it. The clinician helps the client get motivated toward a brighter future.

The therapeutic relationship between client and provider is an essential feature of a treatment practice known as Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET). MET, an adaptation of motivational interviewing, is a client-centered intervention that consists of a few sessions. Clinicians build positive relationships with clients to help them develop awareness, resolve ambivalence about engaging in treatment, and strengthen their motivation for recovery and behavior change. The clinician assists clients in making their own changes by facilitating their movement through the stages of change. MET techniques are particularly useful in treating adolescents with substance abuse issues. Adolescents are typically resistant to more directive approaches and tend to be more hesitant about committing to behavior change. In fact, many youth do not even recognize their substance use as a problem and are being mandated to treatment. MET may better facilitate the necessary behavioral changes with this population.

References and Tools

Motivational Interviewing website
Miler, W. and Rollnick (2002). Motivational Interviewing, Second Edition: Preparing People For Change, The Guilford Press.
Motivational Interviewing Assessment: Supervisory Tools for Enhancing Proficiency (MIA-STEP) (PDF)
Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) 35: Enhancing Motivation for Change in Substance Abuse Treatment
Enhancing Motivation for Change Inservice Training (PDF)

Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health

Substance Abuse and Systems of Care
Frequently Asked Questions

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	September 2007 Question: I have heard people referring to motivational interviewing and Motivational Enhancement Therapy. What are they and how are they different? Answer: Motivational interviewing (MI) is a style, not a specific intervention. It is non-judgmental, non-confrontational, client-centered, and semi-directive. The clinician asks open-ended questions, conducts empathetic assessments, discovers clients’ beliefs, and uses reflective listening. The approach recognizes that clients who need to make changes in their lives enter counseling at different levels of readiness to change their behavior. One of the goals of the approach is to help the client to become more aware of the problem behavior and the risks and consequences associated with it. The clinician helps the client get motivated toward a brighter future. The therapeutic relationship between client and provider is an essential feature of a treatment practice known as Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET). MET, an adaptation of motivational interviewing, is a client-centered intervention that consists of a few sessions. Clinicians build positive relationships with clients to help them develop awareness, resolve ambivalence about engaging in treatment, and strengthen their motivation for recovery and behavior change. The clinician assists clients in making their own changes by facilitating their movement through the stages of change. MET techniques are particularly useful in treating adolescents with substance abuse issues. Adolescents are typically resistant to more directive approaches and tend to be more hesitant about committing to behavior change. In fact, many youth do not even recognize their substance use as a problem and are being mandated to treatment. MET may better facilitate the necessary behavioral changes with this population. References and Tools Motivational Interviewing website Miler, W. and Rollnick (2002). Motivational Interviewing, Second Edition: Preparing People For Change, The Guilford Press. Motivational Interviewing Assessment: Supervisory Tools for Enhancing Proficiency (MIA-STEP) (PDF) Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) 35: Enhancing Motivation for Change in Substance Abuse Treatment Enhancing Motivation for Change Inservice Training (PDF)

Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health

Substance Abuse and Systems of Care Frequently Asked Questions

Substance Abuse and Systems of Care
Frequently Asked Questions