Motivational Interviewing (MI) At Spring Hill Recovery
One of the many treatment options available at Spring Hill, motivational interviewing for addiction recovery entails a unique blend of techniques that help people develop autonomy and self-sufficiency in sobriety.

At Spring Hill Recovery Center, we provide a variety of evidence-based treatment approaches that are individualized to meet the needs of each of our clients. This includes motivational interviewing (MI)—one of the most common addiction therapy techniques used to help people achieve recovery.
The MI approach is adaptive to a wide spectrum of substance abuse patterns and histories, and is designed to be flexible for different levels of addiction treatment. Evidence of successful clinical results and treatment outcomes supports the efficacy of motivational interviewing for clients who have difficulty accepting the need for recovery.
What Is Motivational Interviewing?
Motivational interviewing is a client-centric evidence-based therapy approach that incentivizes behavioral changes and healthier lifestyle choices.
The MI approach focuses on developing a therapeutic alliance between counselors and clients, as they collaboratively work on overcoming personal obstacles to sobriety. This therapy technique validates the client’s reservations or ambivalence about sobriety by expressing empathy and unconditional positive regard, while facilitating the development of the client’s internal motivation to become proactive in recovery.
Principles Of Motivational Interviewing
The techniques and primary principles of MI are based on the theory that the motivation to change and commit to sobriety has to develop from within, not by external coercion. This therapy model is most effective for people who are ambivalent about their recovery and may be averse to changing their behaviors and adapting to a lifestyle of sobriety.
There are five principles of motivational interviewing that the therapist uses to establish the therapist-client relationship as one between two equal people.
The five principles of motivational interviewing are:
- express empathy
- avoid confrontation
- roll with resistance
- motivate change
- encourage autonomy
These can be thought of as communication styles, and they are critical for building trust, empowering self-confidence, and developing effective communication skills, all of which can help the client begin healing.
Techniques Of Motivational Interviewing
In motivational interviewing therapy, the clinician helps the client realize that, at some level, they already do want to change their behaviors, which is often the first step in developing the appropriate motivation to do so.
“Change talk” is a key aspect that the therapist listens for when in discussion with the client. These are statements that indicate the client’s desire, ability, reason, or need to change.
Change talk is elicited with prompts known by the acronym OARS, which stands for:
- open-ended questions
- affirmations
- reflective listening
- summarizing
The therapist and client explore instances of change talk and use them as a foundation for setting healthy goals in sobriety.
Stages Of Change In Motivational Interviewing
The stages of change, or transtheoretical, model is part of the MI approach. This is an alternative to confrontational approaches that can provoke resistance and adversity. The stages of change in motivational interviewing are designed to be cyclical and sequential, yet flexible enough that they can be individualized for optimal success in treatment.
The stages of change model includes:
- precontemplation
- contemplation
- preparation
- action
- maintenance
Each stage represents the person’s mindset as they gradually approach self-acceptance and the realization that sobriety can help them achieve their goals.
Precontemplation and contemplation entail coming to terms with the consequences of addiction, with the encouragement of unconditional positive regard from the therapist.
Once someone moves into preparation and action, they become more self-aware and motivated to set intentions for themselves as their perspective on sobriety evolves.
The maintenance phase focuses on the continuity of healthy behaviors and thoughts. This is an ongoing process of staying in the present, sustaining positive recovery, and dealing with relapse, if necessary.
Is Motivational Interviewing Effective?
Motivational interviewing is most effective for people who are resistant to traditional inpatient rehab counseling methods.
Some of these methods include:
While the technique was originally designed to treat alcohol addiction, it has become a widely used intervention strategy known for its efficacy in treating various addictions.
The potential benefits of MI result from the increased autonomy and self-confidence that clients develop, which empowers them to change voluntarily, instead of by force. Research on MI indicates that people who are more engaged in therapy are more favorably responsive to treatment and receptive to clinical recommendations.
Find Freedom From Addiction At Spring Hill
Reach out to our care specialists at in Ashby, MA, to learn more about the specialized addiction treatment options we provide.
- Frontiers in Psychiatry – Attachment and Therapeutic Alliance https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.730876/full
- Institute for Research, Education, & Training in Addiction – Eliciting Change Talk https://ireta.org/eliciting-change-talk-infusing-motivational-interviewing-with-intentionality/
- Medscape – Motivating Health Behavior Change in Clinical Settings https://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/541417
- National Institute on Drug Abuse – Motivational Enhancement Therapy https://nida.nih.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/evidence-based-approaches-to-drug-addiction-treatment/behavioral-therapies/motivational-enhancement-therapy
- National Library of Medicine – Motivational Interviewing https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1463134/#:~:text=Motivational%20interviewing%20had%20a%20significant,and%20psychological%20(75%25)%20diseases.
- Positive Psychology – Is Motivational Interviewing Effective? https://positivepsychology.com/motivational-interviewing-effectiveness/
- Providers Clinical Support System – Motivational Interviewing https://pcssnow.org/resource/motivational-interviewing-talking-with-someone-struggling-with-oud/