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Motivational Interviewing

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If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction, you may have heard of motivational interviewing (MI) before. After all, MI is a type of therapy commonly included in addiction treatment programs. MI therapy is designed to help people struggling with addiction overcome ambivalence and commit to change.

Skywood Outpatient offers a motivational interviewing program in Royal Oak, Michigan. Call 248.617.6237 today to learn more about motivational interviewing for addiction treatment and other types of addiction therapy.

What Is Addiction Therapy and How Does It Work in Rehab Programs?

Addiction therapy is treating addiction through various psychological and medical interventions. These interventions can include individual therapy, group therapy, medication, and other types of support. The goal of addiction therapy is to help people struggling with addiction overcome their dependence on substances and live a life that is free from addiction.

There are many different types of addiction therapy, but they all share one common goal—to help people struggling with addiction to overcome their dependence on substances. One type of addiction therapy that is particularly effective is motivational interviewing.

What Is Motivational Interviewing?

MI is a type of counseling that helps people struggling with addictive behaviors to change their behavior by increasing their motivation to change. MI is based on the premise that people are more likely to change their behavior if intrinsically motivated.

Motivational interviewing for addiction treatment works by helping people struggling with addiction identify their personal goals and values. Once these goals and values are identified, the therapist can work with patients to develop a plan to help them achieve them. This plan may include the following:

  • Identifying and avoiding triggers
  • Learning new coping skills
  • Developing a support system
  • Finding new activities to replace old ones

This plan may also involve changing a patient’s lifestyle, such as eating healthier or exercising more. It may also include altering a patient’s social circle, such as spending time with sober friends or attending recovery meetings.

MI is typically offered in three- to six-session courses. These courses are usually offered weekly, but some facilities offer them more frequently. The number of sessions you’ll need will depend on how much help you need to develop a plan and increase your motivation to change your behavior.

Who Would Benefit the Most from Undergoing a Motivational Interviewing Program?

Anyone struggling with addictive behavior would benefit from undergoing a motivational interviewing program for addiction treatment. MI therapy can also help people struggling with mental health issues other than SUDs, like anxiety and depression. In fact, MI was developed by Dr. William R. Miller in 1983 to treat alcoholism, but it has since been adapted to treat other types of addiction and mental health issues.

Certain individuals may benefit more from this type of therapy than others—such as:

  • People who are unsure about whether they want to change their behavior
  • People who have tried to change their behavior in the past but were unsuccessful
  • People who lack confidence in their ability to change their behavior
  • People who need help developing a plan to change their behavior

People struggling with addiction without a support system outside their comprehensive rehab plan and the facility that manages their treatment may also significantly benefit from MI therapy.