Interventions
Motivational Enhancement (ME)
Motivational Enhancement (ME)
Do you have trouble making decisions or taking action? Nearly all choices in life include ambivalence due to there being both pros and cons. A part of you wants to change and a part of you wants to stay the same. Motivational enhancement uses specific techniques to help people move though the stages of change from denial to problem recognition to commitment to change to taking action and then maintaining changes that have been made.
Motivational enhancement was developed as a set of techniques (i.e., motivational interviewing) that were used to reduce alcohol use – by helping break though denial about the drinking to taking action to reduce or stop drinking. In the 30 years since its inception, motivational enhancement has evolved for making other changes to improve one’s health and well-being.
There is no limit as to what behavior changes are made possible by enhancing one’s motivation – from recognizing that there is a problem to making changes and then staying on track because (a) the consequences of staying the same are too high, (b) there are small steps you can take – start where you are, and (c) you can do it – in fact, you are doing it.
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The process begins by establishing a working relationship based on trust and mutual respect. The process is collaborative and cooperative – the therapist does not judge or pressure the person, but rather provides information. What that person does with that information is entirely up to him or her. Motivational enhancement is an ongoing process of making changes. Attention is repeatedly returned to one’s motivations for change, and feelings of hope and confidence.
Motivational enhancement helps create new thought pathways in the brain, which allows for new ways of thinking, behaving, and being in the world. It can be used to increase the likelihood of making positive changes to any behavior. The sky’s the limit
