Working with mixed feelings
It is very common to feel two ways about change: wanting things to be different, and also feeling uncertain, afraid or attached to the familiar. Motivational interviewing (MI) accepts these mixed feelings as normal and works with them rather than against them.
Instead of telling someone what to do, the therapist listens closely, asks open questions and reflects back what they hear, helping the person clarify what matters to her and why.
Key principles
- Partnership: the client and therapist work together
- Acceptance: the person’s experience and choices are respected
- Evoking: the reasons for change come from the person herself
- Compassion: the focus is on her wellbeing
When it can help
MI can be useful at the start of treatment, when a woman is deciding whether and how to commit to recovery, and later on if motivation dips. It is often combined with other approaches, such as cognitive behavioural therapy and individual counselling.
For families
Families often want to know how to talk to a loved one who is not ready for help. The TNI team can discuss how to approach these conversations supportively — please get in touch.