Lack of motivation to quit drinking despite its negative consequences is one of the greatest barriers for people struggling with alcohol addiction. More often than not, alcoholics only feel motivated to make a change after encountering serious alcohol-induced problems or legal consequences. That motivation is also often only short-lived, causing a recovering alcoholic to go back to drinking.
The Motivational Interviewing (MI) technique is used to help increase a person’s motivation. When combined with other evidence-based therapies, this may help people struggling with addiction make and maintain long-term, positive behaviour changes. So, if you or your loved one don’t seem to be interested in getting sober, MI might be the key to starting the journey to recovery before it’s too late.
What Is Motivational Interviewing?
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a technique designed to help people overcome ambivalence and become more motivated to stop engaging in harmful or unhelpful behaviours, like abusing alcohol. First described by Professor William Miller in the early 1980s, MI provides a transformative method of alcohol rehabilitation by addressing the inner conflicts that frequently prevent people from committing to making healthy changes.
In contrast to conventional, confrontational methods, MI is predicated on empathy and respect. It encourages a supportive conversation that can help you identify your strengths, articulate your reasons for wanting to change, and create a clear plan for getting well. An MI-trained therapist works with you to pinpoint why you should make changes and then develops a plan to put those changes into action.
The theory behind MI is based on four principles:
- Expressing empathy. A motivational interviewing counsellor can invite you to confront challenging realities and safely explore conflicts by providing a welcoming space. MI is based on thoughtful listening and asking many open-ended questions, which show true empathy.
- Developing discrepancy. MI helps highlight the disconnect between your actions and your stated goals. If this “discrepancy” is clear, you will likely be motivated to change.
- Rolling with resistance. Resistance is a clue for specialists conducting MI to adjust their approach. Instead of confronting or debating you, they will work cooperatively to support you in creating your own case for change. One of the fundamental principles of doing MI work is the belief that clients possess the power of change.
- Supporting self-efficacy. One of MI’s primary goals is to inspire hope and confidence in the possibility of change. Counsellors can help you realize your inherent strengths by highlighting how you have previously used them to effect change, raising your sense of self-efficacy.
Additionally, the foundation of motivational interviewing is the concept of being “ready, willing, and able.” This characterizes the three essential elements of motivation: the importance of change, confidence in change, and the necessity of change.
How Motivational Interviewing Facilitates Alcohol Recovery
Motivational interviewing can assist in determining the purpose of your alcohol consumption. MI may also inspire positive change in you by fostering engagement, reducing defensiveness and resistance, and promoting behaviour modification.
Some of the main benefits of MI in alcohol recovery are:
- Understanding alcohol addiction. With MI’s help, it will be easier for you to manage your recovery because it can help identify and address the barriers that block you from making the necessary changes, including psychological issues and environmental triggers.
- Reducing relapse risk. MI promotes self-improvement, reinforces positive outcomes, and provides you with coping skills to manage triggers – all of which help prevent relapse.
- Quitting or reducing alcohol use. MI can help you achieve and sustain long-term sobriety because therapists will learn more about you and work with you to develop individualized goals that are realistic and achievable, as well as practical ways to accomplish them.
- Empowerment for positive changes. MI fortifies your resolve to change by highlighting the discrepancy between your present behaviour and your values or objectives.
- Improves reception to treatment. MI therapists help you make decisions regarding your recovery through guided conversations, increasing your involvement and engagement in the treatment process.
- Building self-confidence. MI places a strong emphasis on self-empowerment and your capacity for change, giving you confidence in your ability to break free from alcohol addiction.
Multiple studies demonstrate that motivational interviewing is more effective than conventional advice in treating various illnesses and behavioural issues. For example, several studies show that MI had a significant and clinically meaningful effect on treating psychological (75%) and physiological (72%) diseases.
It has been shown that motivational interviewing is highly effective in helping individuals with alcohol use disorders engage in treatment and cut back on problem drinking. According to one study, individuals who started treatment with MI had twice as high a rate of complete abstinence three to six months after receiving inpatient or outpatient care.
Combining Motivational Interviewing With Other Addiction Recovery Approaches
Motivational interviewing is used as a stand-alone treatment for other behavioural addictions, like eating disorders or gambling. However, in alcohol recovery, it is typically used in combination with other approaches.
MI is already a part of some treatment programs, such as SMART Recovery. For example, MI is crucial in processes like cost-benefit analysis, which pits the behaviour of resisting the urge to drink against the consequences of drinking. Motivational interviewing can also heavily influence the success of SMART Recovery’s “contemplation” stage.
Another popular alcohol recovery method that can benefit from motivational interviewing is the holistic approach. As a comprehensive form of therapy, holistic healing involves more activities than traditional approaches because it tackles all facets of recovery, including mental, emotional, and physical. MI can motivate you to partake in extracurricular activities, such as yoga, art, working out, and diet modifications.
MI can also be a complementary approach to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). While CBT focuses on the cognitive and behavioural aspects of addiction, MI concentrates on improving motivation and resolving ambivalence. Combining them can improve your motivation and acquire useful skills for controlling triggers and breaking negative thought patterns.
Additionally, MI can improve participation in 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous by addressing uncertainty and highlighting the advantages of joining. MI can help you overcome your hesitations and encourage you to take advantage of these programs’ accountability and community support.
Find the Motivation to Start Your Journey to Alcohol Recovery
A 2020 survey showed that 37.5 million people with alcohol and other drug addictions didn’t feel the need for treatment. If you or the person you care about is among them, consider finding a rehab that offers motivational interviewing. It may help you or your loved one find the motivation to take the crucial first step on the journey to alcohol recovery.
If you’re ready, speak to an alcohol recovery specialist at HARP today.
