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How Motivational Interviewing Can Improve Your Mental Wellness

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a psychological treatment that has grown in popularity.

By SeanPublished 2 years ago 4 min read
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How Motivational Interviewing Can Improve Your Mental Wellness
Photo by Fab Lentz on Unsplash

Motivational Interviewing is a counseling method that was originally intended to help people recover from addictions, but it may now be used to enhance social and interpersonal skills for a variety of mental health problems. MI evolved as a reaction to the realization that changing established

The goal of motivational interviewing is to encourage clients to improve their personal motivation for change. This type of therapy highlights the contrast between an individual's goals or values and their present habits in order to push them towards healthier behaviors.

The primary aim of motivational interviewing is to assist a client in overcoming their fear or refusal to alter, as well as encourage them to believe that their desired change is feasible. During sessions, a counselor or therapist will have talks with the patient regarding their actions.

A therapist's duty is to lead the discussion in such a way that the client feels empowered and motivated to change, as well as providing the confidence to do so. Motivational interviewing is goal-oriented and client-directed for most healthcare professionals.

A positive, collaborative relationship between the healthcare worker and the patient is required for motivational interviewing sessions to be successful. This entails a counselor or therapist demonstrating a high degree of compassion and empathy for their client, recognizing that any difficulty their client may have in initiating change is theirs to bear.

Therapies that don't cling to a specific goal but instead urge the client to discover and pursue their own objectives and values are more inclined to produce positivity and transformation.

Here are some of the most important ideas that get stressed throughout the motivational interview:

  • Reflective listening is a way to express empathy.
  • Identifying behavioral and life values and objectives discrepancies
  • Avoidance of direct confrontation from the healthcare professional
  • Encouraging and uplifting atmosphere
  • Using affirmation statements like "I appreciate you seeing me today" to instill confidence in the client's potential for improvement
  • Acceptance strategies that are based on mindfulness principles include
  • Using a client-centered approach to tackle the client's unique situation

The term motivation refers to the power of will that an individual has. It is defined as "the capacity for humans to harness or channel their own energy, enthusiasm, or competence towards a purpose." Motivation may take many forms; one example is the motivation to lose weight. The inclination to change harmful behaviors into more productive and beneficial actions arises from this

Individuals who are battling addiction and substance use must assess their willingness to change, as many people get used to using drugs as a way of coping. No matter what drug is used, continuous usage has damaging effects on the brain's pleasure center, influencing one's desire to change. When it comes to any sort of mental illness, the first step is for a person to be certain in their capacity to alter and be encouraged to do so. As a result, they will be better able to devote time and energy to be a better version of themselves.

Motivational Interviewing may be used to interact with those who are homeless or coping with trauma. Many of these people have gone through so much adversity and difficulty that they no longer have the desire or ability to alter their lives. Motivational interviewing reminds individuals that they are deserving and capable of having a brighter future if they believe it for themselves.

Motivational Interviewing succeeds because it allows a client to have an attentive and instructive ear to hear their ideas, emotions, and experiences. It empowers a client by putting them in touch with empathy for the difficulties they have faced. This may be the case for some consumers, who may now feel capable of changing or deserving a better existence as

Treating a person with the combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing for self-esteem is beneficial to mental health because it encourages change and combats resistance to change that many people have. MI also contributes to mental well-being by encouraging individuals to take responsibility for finding answers to their difficulties in a positive, genuine environment. Confidence also improves. A client receives valuable and sympathetic feedback on their ideas, feelings, and other emotions throughout motivational interviewing. The comments that they get through these sessions help them to feel valued, acknowledged, willing to learn, and at ease in the process of exploring new possibilities for change in the future.

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