Motivational Interviewing

last authored: Jan 2011, David LaPierre
last reviewed:

 

 

Introduction

conversation

Clowngespräch, 1912 - Christian Rohlfs

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a form of counselling designed to examine and resolve ambivalence around changes relevant for health using the patient's own motivation for change.

 

 

Motivation is elicited, not imposed, and it is the task of the patient/client to identify and address ambivalence. Confrontation or persuasion have little role to play.

 

 

 

MI has been used successfully in the following:

 

 

Foundations of MI

The four guiding principles of MI may be summarized as RULE:

 

Resist the righting reflex: Our default is frequently to urge someone to stop a poor behaviour, and this can be almost automatic. However, this can have the opposite effect as the patient resists persuasion, an automatic human tendency. This is particularly true if the patient is ambivalent about a behaviour choice.

Another key thing is that we tend to believe what we hear ourselves say. If patients are arguing AGAINST change, rather than for it, this can decrease the chances of successful change.

 

 

Understand the patient's motivations: Behaviour change will most likely occur if a patient's reasons are voiced, rather than yours.

"People are generally better persuaded by the reasons they themselves have discovered than by those which have come from the mind of others." Blaise Pascal, Les Pensees, 1670.

 

Listen to your patient: Frequently patients come to their health care provider for answers. However, with behaviour change, we need to listen for answers from the patient. Good listening is a skill that takes quite a bit of practice.

 

 

Empower your patient: Results are frequently better when the patient is engaged and interested in their health. It is important to inspire patients and support their hope. Get them to think aloud during the conversation, facilitating their creative expression of change talk.

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All about Ambivalence

Ambivalence - seeing both sides of a question and not knowing which way to go - is very common when patients are considering behaviour change. Most people want to be healthy, but the status quo is familiar and comes with rewards. There are disadvantages to change, some behaviours may even be painful, such as glucose monitoring. Statements describing ambivalence frequently have 'but' in the middle:

Ambivalence can keep people stuck without changing. Perhaps even more hindering, though, is for others to inform the patient of the reasons, or pro's, of changing. This leaves them defending the reasons NOT to change.

 

It is much better to carefully watch for pro-change reasons the patients come up with and endeavour to support this 'change talk', as described below.

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Change Talk

Change talk frequently signifies something within a patient that is leading them towards behaviour change. There are six types of change talk:

desire

  • I want to...
  • I hope to...

need

  • I must...
  • I know I need to...

ability

  • I know I can...
  • I think I could...

commitment

  • Tomorrow I will...
  • I am going to...

reasons

  • I would have more money if I...
  • I would have less pain if I...

taking steps

  • I have been...
  • yesterday I...

 

Ambivalence is often associated with conflict around desire, ability, reasons, and need. They are critical to pick out, and can be remembered with the acronym DARN. These are precommitment sentiments, ideally leading up to commitment and then taking steps, culminating in behaviour change.

 

It is not as important to be able to categorize the type of change talk as to be able to identify it when present. MI involves eliciting change talk, leading towards a strengthening of commitment. DARN talk also points towards the patient's values, which can be powerful motivators for change.

 

You can elicit change talk directly:

Being attuned to change talk is an ideal way of becoming better at guiding. The better you are doing at guiding, the more change talk you'll here.

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Assessing Motivation

The question should not be "Why isn't this person motivated?" but rather, "What motivates this person right now?" Don't make assumptions here!

 

There are specific clinician behaviours that are important:

We do many things because our motivation is high when we are feeling bad; when we work hard, we start to feel good, and when our motivation thusly disappears, we often drop the behaviour. We need to keep behaviour going; if negative feelings are short-term motivators, positive feelings are long-term motivators. These include health, control, and self-esteem.

 

 

Discussing behaviour change can occur whenever a patient is considering doing something different in the interest of health.

"Do you want to take care of yourself?" is a superficial question; also need to ask

"why do you want to take care of yourself?" and

"how hard are you willing to work to take care of yourself?"

"how willing are you to make choices that might increase the burden temporarily in order to improveyour health in the long run?"

 

Assessing Behavioural Intention

Do you know this is a problem?

Are you distressed by this problem?

Are you interested in change?

Are you ready to change now?

 

 

Ask questions; minimize statements

 

To further explore, continue asking questions

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Supporting Motivation

Express empathy

Develop discrepancy: Compare where the patient is and where they want to be, then get the patient to discover the why and the how to change.

 

Take a curious, non-judgmental stance

Avoid arguing

Roll with Resistance

Support self-efficacy

Easier choice, harder behaviour

Self-esteem is critical; if activity and healthy eating become part of your identity, they will continue!

 

Building momentum

Reframing: offer a new perspective

 

Emphasizing personal choice and control

 

Summarizing

 

Paradox - take on the 'no change" perspective and allow the patient to fashion responses

 

Offer personalized feedback

 

Offering advice

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Reflection

It is important to assess your knowledge of where they are at, and this can be done by repeating, rephrasing, parahprasing, and reflecting feelings.

Amplified reflection uses the patient's words to bring out the opposite in their ambivalence

Be careful not to lapse into judgement or criticism here!!

 

 

 

Identifying and Navigating Barriers

 

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Resources and References

Rubak S, Sandback A, Lauritzen T, Christensen B. 2005.

 

Quick R. 2003. Changing community behaviour: experience from three African countries. Int J Environ Health Res. 13 Suppl 1:S115-21.

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