HUS 436 Counseling for Co-Occurring
Assignment: Research Paper
The topic of this research paper is the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing (MI) with people dealing with co-occurring disorders. To begin, I would like to introduce the concept of Motivational Interviewing. Motivational interviewing is a collaborative, person--centered form of guiding to elicit and strengthen motivation for change. It is an empathic, supportive counseling style that supports the conditions for change. Practitioners are careful to avoid arguments and confrontation, which tend to increase a person's defensiveness and resistance.
Motivational interviewing is a proven and effective way to: * Engage individuals with co-occurring disorders * Develop therapeutic relationships * Determine individualized goals
Motivational interviewing is used for the treatment of many conditions. Specific strategies have been successfully applied to working with individuals with co-occurring disorders include: * Assessing the person's perception of the problem * Exploring the person's understanding of his or her condition * Examining the person's desire for continued treatment * Ensuring a person's attendance at initial sessions * Expanding the person's perceptions for the possibilities of successful change
Research shows that motivational interviewing techniques, including counseling, assessment, multiple sessions, and brief interventions, are associated with greater participation in treatment and positive treatment outcomes. (SAMHSA) Motivational interviewing works with acceptance instead censure to help the person change. Rollnick describes motivational interviewing as empowering and its concepts being very powerful. Motivational interviewing helps practitioners connect with an individual's intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving