Motivational Interviewing
Strategies & Interventions
During The Stages Of Change
Pre-contemplation
Desired Outcomes: Raise doubt, Problem Recognition
Create rapport
Reflective Listening
Empathy
Listen to resistance and emphasised choice
Give information to initiate thinking
Explore reasons not to change, then any reasons to change
Explore other goals for therapy
Give reasons to believe that change is possible if desired
Contemplation
Desired Outcomes: Raise concern with present behaviour and create a desire to
change
Explore ambivalence
Explore the problem
Explore discrepancies between long term goals and present behaviour
Explore confidence to change
Identify barriers to change and strengths to overcome these
Reflect back statements of desire and confidence to start change
Preparation/Decision
Desired Outcome: Optimism about change, Action Plan
Listen and affirm
Explore confidence to change
Clarify goals
Explore options to achieve goals
Explore consequence of options
Revisit values and goals
Identify small steps
Identify resources
Visualise success
Action
Desired Outcome: Change behaviour and increase repertoire of behaviour
Remember ambivalence may still be present
Monitor small steps
Give positive feedback
Encourage
Continue giving information
Celebrate success
Maintenance
Desired Outcome: Maintain changes, relapse prevention
Affirm progress
Build confidence
Build support
Build new skills
Re-enforcement of longer term goals
Relapse
Desired Outcome: Learn from experience
Frame as part of learning
Explore how the relapse occurred and strategies for next time
Empathise
Build new skills
Explore ambivalence
Explore strengths and resources
Affirm positives
Reflect back self motivating statements concerning desire and confidence to
learn from the experience
learn from the experience
Return to contemplation stage