Motivational Interviewing. Essay Example

INTRODUCTION.

In motivational interviewing the canceled expresses the acceptance of the client in order to help in the change process. Motivation enhances the chances of intervening on a highly addictive behavior in efforts to achieve a change of the same behavior. The highly addictive behaviors could include drug and other substance abuse with an enhancement in motivation making people realize their problems and help them towards change. In the recent time, motivational enhancement approaches to deal with the rising social problems is becoming more and more prominent with the most common key approach being a motivational interview. This approach is centered on the targeted person that aims at encouraging personal motivation to induce change in a certain behavior (Miller, 2013). In motivational interviews, the psychologist or therapist shows a lot of empathy for the client on the ground that people have the potential to change. It is very important for the therapist to create such an environment that encourages change for the optimum achievement of the change of behavior. In this form of cancelling the therapist help the client deal with or resolve the possible obstacles that hinder the individual from achieving personal goals.

Objectives

The objectives of this research paper are to create an understanding of the use of motivational interviewing. Role playing in the interviews will clearly illustrate the key elements used in motivational interview which include empathetic listening and empowerment of the client or in this case the interviewee, uncertainty, self and identity will be combined in the roles played.

Literature review.

In order to realize our full potential, we all work and strive to become fully functional in our daily lives and deprived of the courage to do so there is no social change that will be experienced. This process of social changed can only be personal and no one can direct another person’s change but con only motivate how it happens, change is therefore centered only on the person who is willing to embrace it. We all have our different perception of how the world works around us and recognizing the worth of one person and their perception of how the world works is the only successive way for social change. According to the article written by Weiner, & Craighead, (2010), the presence of a calm and respectable situation creates an awareness in the mind of the person seeking to change their behavior which leads to the cohesive functioning in their lives.
Social change does not however rely on the change in the environment but relies mostly on motivation through interviews. Motivational interviewing is according to many scholars the most effective way to creating social change. There are different phases in motivational interviews starting with the motivation or encouragement of a person towards change. A resolution is reached that help the client to achieve the necessary changes that they may have resisted in the past. The second step after the reaching of a resolution is the process where the therapist helps the client determine their self-worth and in so doing the client will feel the need to change. According to an article by Miller, & Rollnick, (2013), this helps the client feel the need to change and it’s after this phase that the therapist a now move to motivating and interviewing the client and in so doing the will to change in the client becomes more strong, the client is motivated by this phase and will eventually take steps in reducing or overcoming the addictive behavior that is on focus.
Every individual with an addictive behavior has the will and the power to change their behavior but it is only through the right way of motivation that this can be achieved. The therapist should find ways that do not involve creating a change plan but on the other hand it should include the understanding of the client’s behavior, be empathetic and only focus on motivating the client towards the direction of change in their free will. If the therapist himself creates the change plan, the client is more likely to rebel rather than seek change. Motivational interviewing require great communication skills for a therapist to lure the client to change by exploiting the opportunities where the client shows the will to change.
According to Dart, 2011 the therapist should be able to establish a two-way relationship with the client that results in a clear path towards change. Change can only come from the client and no matter how small the therapist should always keep in mind that in the two-way relationship the client is the single most important person in the process of change and in so doing they can respect the client’s choice of behavior change. Rather than focusing on the negative behavior the therapist ability to note even the smallest of change and commenting on complimenting on it can help the client feel that the therapist is on the lookout for their efforts to change and their strengths and they will, therefore, gear towards positive change.
According to Rosengren, (2009) reflective listening is also another key element in motivational interviewing this is because it helps the therapist makes the right reflective statements to the client that makes them hear their thoughts or statements out loud from another person. The choice of words is also very crucial to it aims at encouraging the client to start changing their addictive behavior. Through reflective listening the therapist is also able to make a summary of what the client is saying hence assuring that what they are saying is I construction is also another important step in motivating change in an individual. This is so because we are mostly motivated to change when we understand how others perceive us and this is highly achievable in a social group, because the individual will work towards achieving a good relationship with the group members.
In a certain case study we look at a young woman (Mary) who becomes a mother at the age of 15, she is now 25 years of age and have been a heavy drinker since she had her daughter ( Susan ). Due to the addictive behavior Mary is at the risk of suffering from alcohol intoxication and poisoning plus other negative effects that are as a result of alcohol. Her daughter Susan is also experiencing some changes in school with signs of distress and probably marks of an abusive parent. Susan lives in a very poor condition around her stressed and abusive mother. Three different interview are carried out with the first interview geared upon questioning the marks found on Susan’s body. The second interview seeks to address Mary’s drinking addictive behavior and at this stage the client is in denial. On the third interview, the therapist seeks to address the dangers that come with drinking and wants the client to do something about the behavior.

OBSERVATION ON THE CASE STUDY.

The way the therapist introduces herself politely to the client is very appropriate. The therapy is centered on the client by asking her questions and maintaining eye contact. It is also evident the therapist attentively listens to the clients defensive comments. The use of empathic words when the client breakdowns are hence gearing towards motivating the client rather than criticizing them. The exposure of the therapist is highly recommendable for maintain a healthy environment.

Reflective commentary.

In the assignment, I was involved in a group discussion as a first step towards the discussion on the motivational interviewing. A high number of characters involved in the case study makes it more complex and difficult to understand the steps taken in the motivational interviews. The interview was hence focused on two characters Mary and her daughter Susan which was an easier observational group with Mary being addicted to alcohol and the daughter showing possible marks of an abusive mother. The group discussion focuses mainly on Mary addictive behavior to alcohol consumption.
My independent research on the case study leads to the conclusion that our present behaviors affect our future parenting. If there is no role models to influence our lives in a positive way it is also highly likely that we will influence our children in a negative way. The research also led to the conclusion that people who suffer from alcoholism have a hard time accepting their problems and hence motivational interviewing is very important to help them deal with the problem. Alcohol consumption interferes with the parenting process where the thinking of the mother and the ability to reason is affected. Children growing up with parents who are addicted to alcohol and drugs will most often be forced to feed themselves and care for their personal needs hence affecting their behavior in the future in many negative ways. The parents with such addictive behaviors will in most cases deny that the negatives outcomes in their lives is associated with their negative addictive behavior.
Increasing individual accountability helps people like Mary, who have alcohol and drug related addictions to overcome these bad habits. While working in a group toward achieving a positive outcome all the group members should be able or willing to understand that the opinion of every group members matters and each hold some weight in helping overcome the addictive behavior. In the case of Mary understanding, this concept will reduce conflict between the therapist and the client hence creating a conducive environment for achieving the preferred change. The focus should be on the client and understanding their position in the whole process and rather than focusing on criticizing the behavior the therapist should focus on motivating Mary to come to terms with her drinking problem and the acceptance of her behavior will help her change the addictive alcohol behavior.
Conclusively, it is perfect that there is a necessity to understand the different phases that are to be undertaken if a client is to change positively their addictive behaviors. Every stage is crucial to change and a failure in one stage will lead to the failure of overcoming the addictive behavior. It is the accountability of the therapist to motivate effectively the client into achieving a positive outcome when it comes to motivational interviewing. The therapy is focused towards the clients will change and not a critic on their negative addictive behavior.

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