Motivational Interviewing in Adolescent Substance Use Treatment

What Is the Goal of Motivational Interviewing in Teen Substance Use Treatment? 

There are multiple  goals of motivational interviewing in regards to teen substance use treatment. 

Goals of motivational interviewing include: (1) 

• Gaining insight on any discrepancies that the client may have regarding substance use.  
• Resolving their ambivalence to change.
• Promoting each teen’s motivation to change any behaviors related to their substance use. 

Motivational Interviewing in Holistic Adolescent Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment

This therapeutic method was originally developed to help people overcome substance use disorders.. Since it was first developed it has found to have a variety of other benefits, including helping individuals struggling with anxiety disorders, unresolved trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (which often coincide with substance use). 

Benefits of motivational interviewing include: (2) 

• Helping teens build a higher level of self-confidence.
• Teaching teens how to trust their ability to make positive decisions on their own.
• Teaching teens how to take responsibility for themselves and their own actions.
• Reducing the risk of relapse or of a return to old, self-destructive behaviors.
• Showing tees that if they put their energy towards something, they are capable of achieving it.
• Teaching clients how to make the most out of their substance use recovery experience.

The Key Qualities of Motivational Interviewing

There are four key qualities of motivational interviewing outlined by the developers of the technique, these include:  (3) 

1. The licensed therapist does not direct the client on which actions to take, but instead guides the conversation so the therapist and the client can come to a collaborative conclusion.
2. Motivational interviewing is geared towards motivating individuals  to make changes that are going to benefit them in the long run. Teens  become empowered to make decisions that are in their own best interest. They learn how to take positive control of their own lives.
3. This therapeutic technique honors the natural process of change while encouraging teens to further develop and maintain a sense of autonomy.
4. This therapeutic technique avoids confrontation, warning, directing and the offering of unsolicited advice. Rather than say, “If you fail to do this, then this will happen,” the therapist might say something more along the lines of, “What do you think is going to happen if this doesn’t change? Will it bother you if that does happen; why or why not?” The goal is to facilitate a healthy conversation that encourages clients to make their own decisions.

Techniques & Approaches to Motivational Interviewing

When motivational interviewing is used in a substance use  treatment setting, several techniques are actively employed.

Teen addiction motivational interviewing techniques include: (4) 

• Using open-ended questions – When addressing the client the therapist uses questions that encourage deep thought and contemplation. Rather than asking questions that warrant a simple “yes” or “no” answer, the therapist asks personal questions that encourage the client to dig deeper. “How have you tried to improve your quality of life in the past?” “What areas of life would you like to improve upon?”
• Using affirmations – During every stage of the recovery process we focus on constantly affirming our clients on what they are doing well. It is crucial that people who are new to recovery have positive reinforcement that they are making strides, doing their best and succeeding in staying sober one day at a time.
• Reflective listening techniques – This is an important part of motivational interviewing. Rather than simply nodding in agreement as the client shares his or her personal experiences, the therapist reflects on what is being said in order to better understand it and show the client that they are listening attentively.
• Providing summaries at the end of the therapy session – The therapist might also provide summaries throughout the therapy session by recollecting what the client has said, making connections between two distinct parts of the discussion and smoothly transitioning from one subject to another if the conversation becomes derailed.