Goals are important. They help us define what we truly want. Without them, we may wander through life without direction. Trauma and the pain of addiction can severely impact your motivation to change and your desire to make goals. Yet, without motivation, nothing changes.
You may know that some behaviors harm your health, family, and future but see no reason to change. Motivational Enhancement Therapy (ME) is a therapeutic approach designed to revive your personal goals and motivate you toward lasting change.
What Is Motivational Enhancement Therapy?
Motivational Enhancement Therapy is a collaborative approach that empowers you with motivation to change destructive or harmful behaviors. The goal is to help you overcome any ambivalence or resistance you may experience during your treatment process. As you develop self-efficacy, you gain confidence, becoming more willing and ready to change.
Motivational counseling sessions are designed to help you:
- Develop greater awareness of problems that you need to confront.
- Address self-defeating thoughts hindering your progress.
- Increase confidence and motivation in your ability to change.
- Develop a plan to change.
Motivational Enhancement Therapy can be a stand-alone treatment. However, it’s often used with other forms of therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy, to reinforce motivation and strengthen the skills you acquire in these therapeutic sessions.
The Benefits of Motivational Enhancement Therapy for Substance Abuse
Exploring motivation and ambivalence is an essential aspect of the recovery process. If you want to break free from the cycle of addiction, you need self-efficacy. This confidence that you control your motivation and behaviors protects you from getting drawn back into self-destructive behaviors.
Motivational Enhancement Therapy is an effective tool regardless of your commitment level or resistance toward recovery. Many people who struggle with addiction also face obstacles in setting goals due to:
- Strong cravings and an increased tolerance to substances.
- Fear of losing the positive emotions, however fleeting.
- Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness.
- Desire to avoid, numb, or escape unpleasant thoughts or feelings.
- Trauma that’s caused you to lose your sense of purpose or meaning.
Motivational Enhancement Therapy is nonconfrontational and nonjudgmental. It does not rely on coercion or confrontation. Instead, this client-centered approach helps unlock your intrinsic motivation and enables you to become more self-aware as you reflect on the choices available to you.
Motivational Therapy Techniques
Motivational counseling is not a lengthy process — it usually lasts four to six sessions. After the initial assessment, your therapist will utilize a technique called motivational interviewing. Throughout this process, clients are directed to explore and resolve ambivalence. ME relies on five underlying principles:
- Express empathy: When you feel accepted and respected, you can freely examine how your behaviors have impacted others. This reflection can help you regain and express a sense of empathy for those around you.
- Acknowledge discrepancy: Addiction creates a discrepancy between where you are and where you want to be. What are your goals and dreams, and how is addiction holding you back? Acknowledging this discrepancy can inspire you to start your journey toward change.
- Avoid arguments: Your therapist will not argue with or attack you, which would only create defensiveness and resistance to change. ME relies on more gentle, optimistic tactics to highlight concerns. The goal is to help you recognize your need for change.
- Accept resistance: Resistance is a common part of recovery. Instead of fighting it, ME therapists seek to defuse the struggle and explore potential causes for ambivalence.
- Develop self-efficacy: To make a change, you must believe you are capable and can achieve your goals. ME helps you recognize your strengths so that you can start to believe in yourself and your capabilities.
Meet With a Motional Counselor at Sana
If you or your loved one is struggling with ambivalence toward the recovery process, Motivational Enhancement Therapy could help. Reach out to the team at Sana at Stowe today. We want to help you find and strengthen your motivation toward recovery.
When you reach out, we can answer your questions or address any concerns about the treatment process. Our world-class addiction treatment center takes most major insurance to ease any financial concerns you may have.
Ready to leave your past behind and find healing? Give us a call at 802-532-5277 or contact us online.
Sana at Stowe has achieved accreditation and received
a Gold Seal of Approval® from The Joint Commission®.
This accreditation award verifies that Sana meets the most rigorous quality and patient safety standards of care, and shows a dedication to excellence across the full continuum of care. Learn more.
In-network with BlueCross BlueShield and OPTUM
Sana at Stowe is in-network with BlueCross BlueShield and OPTUM
and also accepts most out-of-network insurances, and accepts all private insurance. We provide financial assistance to help with the cost of treatment.
