Motivational interviewing is a counseling approach that your therapist uses to guide you towards the right path. The therapeutic relationship is an intimate and strong relationship. Your therapist genuinely wants to see you stay sober, work through trauma, and watch you attain better mental wellness.

Here are a few techniques that therapists use when conducting motivational interviewing:

• Empathy
• Support
• Dealing with resistance
• Self-efficacy
• Developing autonomy

Empathy is when you put yourself in the shoes of another person. When your therapist is showing empathy, they are trying to understand what it is like to walk in your shoes. This is an intimate experience. Although your therapist does not know what it’s like to be you, they can try to imagine what life is like in your footprints. Empathy helps your therapist help you better. Empathy helps you feel not so alone.

Your therapist is here to support your goals. In addition, they will also confront any inconsistencies that they notice. Therapists want to confront and challenge any resistance that they observe. Confrontation is not meant to be mean. When your therapist confronts inconsistencies, they are working with you to increase self-awareness. Self-awareness is an important principle in recovery.

Self-efficacy is the belief in your ability to be successful. When you first go to treatment, you may have doubts about being able to stay sober. By encouraging self-efficacy with motivational interviewing, your therapist is trying to help you see that you can stay sober.

Autonomy is about independence and making the right choices on your own. The goal of therapy and counseling is to help you grow so that you can stay sober on your own.  You can talk with your therapist about the approaches they use in session. If you notice motivational interviewing in your therapy session, talk to your therapist about it. Ask what the goals of therapy are. Although, your therapist will be keeping you in the loop because therapy sessions are about you.

When a therapist uses motivational interviewing, they are trying to help you grow and gain independence in recovery and mental wellness.

At The Kimberly Center, we care about your recovery. We have trained professionals who use a variety of approaches to help you recover. Call us now at 855-4-KCENTER to learn more about how treatment can help you achieve your recovery goals and stay sober for the long run.