When you are struggling with depression or anxiety, with no clear direction in life, you want help in any way possible. And while there are many helpful resources out there to help with anxiety and depression, sometimes it’s hard to know which one will be best suited for you to invest your time in. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a technique that can be used during the early stages of your treatment – either as a standalone intervention or in conjunction with another strategy like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Motivational Interviewing centers on trust and rapport in the interview process with your therapist, which makes it a useful tool for helping you resolve ambivalence and acknowledge the problem and initiate the road to recovery. In this blog post, you will learn more about motivational interviewing and how it can help you when you’re struggling with anxiety or depression. But first, let’s take a look at some of the potential benefits of using this intervention for anxiety and depression.
What is Motivational Interviewing?
Simply put, motivational interviewing is an interactive, collaborative technique used to explore and resolve your ambivalence about changing your current situation. This means that it helps you confront your weaknesses and take the next step toward making a needed change in your life. When used to treat depression and anxiety, this technique includes three major steps:
- Exploration-collaboration between you and your therapist
- Change talk- drawing on your ideas of change
- Self-Efficacy-emphasizing you have the ability to make the necessary changes in your life
Building within these steps, you can use various tools and strategies to begin moving forward with your progress in treatment. To that end, Motivational Interviewing prepares you for the next steps in therapy.
Why Is It Effective for Depression and Anxiety?
As mentioned previously, motivational interviewing is an effective tool for treating depression and anxiety for a few reasons:
- It’s collaborative – This technique encourages you to work together with your therapist to help you come to terms with your feelings and overcome your challenges.
- It is non-judgmental – The purpose of this strategy is not to find fault or to place blame, but rather to help you explore your current situation, identify your needs, and determine the best next steps for your future.
- It is strengths-based – This approach is designed to help you build on your existing strengths and ability, rather than dwell on your current struggles. This makes it a great tool for those who are experiencing anxiety or depression.
What Are the Benefits of Motivational Interviewing?
There are many benefits to using motivational interviewing to help someone with depression or anxiety. Some of these include:
- It helps you collaborate with your therapist about your care
- It can foster trust and confidence in the process
- It improves your self-efficacy
- It can help you identify your needs and goals
- It prepares you to be more receptive to therapy
- It can be used as a standalone intervention or in conjunction with other challenging methods like CBT.
How Can Motivation Interviewing Help Someone With Depression or Anxiety?
To use motivational interviewing to help you with depression or anxiety, your therapist will take these essential steps: – Actively listen – This is the most important step in the process as it builds trust and helps you build confidence around what you need to work on. Having a safe space for change talk – At this point, you want to talk about your current situation and the needs around it. We explore your options – Once you have shared what’s going on, we help you explore your options for the next steps. This could include starting CBT, seeking medical attention, or otherwise seeking the help that you need. Supporting self-efficacy You will learn that you have the capacity to overcome your challenges by producing the specific results you set out to attain. You and your therapist will develop a therapeutic relationship that will offer you ongoing support – You will know that she is there for you and ready to offer help, encouragement, and support on your journey to wellness.
Key Takeaway
Motivational interviewing is an effective and collaborative technique that can be used to help you confront your ambivalence about change and take the next step toward making needed interventions. It’s an excellent tool for treating depression and anxiety and can be used as a standalone intervention or in conjunction with other strategies. It is a great intervention to develop a foundation for your therapeutic journey and develop a therapeutic relationship with your therapist.
