Motivational Enhancement Therapy for Substance Abuse
Empower Change, Overcome Addiction with Motivational Enhancement Therapy
The Effects of MET on Alcohol And Drug Abuse Recovery
If you are looking for more information, you may already know that motivational enhancement therapy is a popular treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. But is it an effective approach?
Numerous studies and our own experiences at Purpose Healing Center show that this is a very effective approach for many clients seeking support for sobriety and mental health. But what does it offer and how can it support you or your loved one’s needs?
The main goal of motivational enhancement therapy (MET) is to increase your internal motivation to change. It promotes self-efficacy and confidence, which can be crucial for success.
No matter how challenging things feel right now, our team at Purpose firmly believes that you can get to the other side of drug and alcohol addiction. Finding motivation and realizing that the pros of going through the recovery process outweigh the cons can be essential, which is where MET comes in.
We invite you to join us and keep reading as we explore the value of MET for drug and alcohol abuse recovery.
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What Does Motivational Enhancement Therapy for Substance Abuse Offer?
MET helps people in substance abuse treatment find intrinsic motivation to change their behaviors. Intrinsic or internal motivation refers to your personal desire to make a change. It’s not the same as external motivation, where something outside of you (e.g., a reward) is the motivator.
The process starts with an initial assessment. During this session, your new therapist will ask questions about your current desire to change, talk about goals, and get to know you better. After that, you will complete a number of targeted treatment sessions.
As a time-limited counseling approach, MET involves a total of approximately four treatment sessions. Another person (e.g., your significant other) could be involved in the first two sessions, though this is not required.
MET is not usually the sole treatment for drug and alcohol use. Instead, it fulfills a unique role. Especially for those who currently lack motivation to cease drug or alcohol consumption, MET can be an imperative part of substance use disorder treatment.
How Do the Stages of Change Relate to MET for Addiction?
MET is based on the transtheoretical model, which details the stages of change. Understanding the stages of change can help you better grasp the role of MET for drug and alcohol dependence. These include:
- Pre-contemplation stage. When in the pre-contemplation stage, a person is not yet contemplating recovery. They may have limited insight regarding the negative consequences of their substance use, or they might be in denial. They are not yet motivated to change.
- Contemplation stage. In the contemplation stage, you become aware that your substance abuse is a problem. However, you might feel unsure, ambivalent, or indecisive about seeking treatment.
- Preparation stage. During the preparation stage, people start to gather information and prepare to make changes. You might look into drug addiction treatment, 12-step groups, and other resources at this time.
- Action stage. The action stage is marked by taking actionable steps toward recovery. For example, attending therapy or 12-step meetings. People in this stage are willing to seek support and are making progress.
- Maintenance stage. This stage focuses on sustaining progress. In other words, continuing to refrain from substance use. This doesn’t mean that recovery is over. In fact, people in this stage require continued support as they make life transitions and work on relapse prevention.
- Relapse stage. Though not everyone in addiction treatment goes through this stage, some people with substance use disorders may experience relapse. They may then move through the stages of change again.
During the first session, a MET therapist will ask you a series of questions. These questions will help your therapist understand what stage of change you are in right now and how willing you are to change substance use behaviors.
For example, if you’re in the contemplation stage, a therapist might help you explore why seeking substance use treatment is worth it.
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The Core Components of Motivational Enhancement Therapy
The core components of motivational enhancement therapy include:
- In MET, it is critical that the therapist creates a non-judgmental environment. They show empathy for the client using reflective listening and have a deep understanding of how substance abuse functions.
- Developing discrepancy. You and your therapist will discuss the negative consequences of drug or alcohol use. This will help to illustrate the discrepancy between your goals and desires in life and how substance use interferes with them.
- Rolling with resistance. Change can be intimidating, and some may feel resistant to change. Ambivalence is a normal part of the process. Addiction therapists understand that. Rather than argue with a client’s resistance, therapists will listen and guide them gently.
- Supporting self-efficacy. Those who aren’t yet ready to change may feel resistant because they can’t yet picture a life where staying off of drugs and alcohol “works.” Therapists using MET help you increase confidence in your ability to change, which may involve identifying past successes, highlighting strengths, and providing positive reinforcement.
Sometimes, other treatments for alcohol or drug abuse aim to create behavioral change through external motivation. MET empowers your autonomy and sense of choice.
What are the Benefits of MET for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment?
MET is associated with positive outcomes, even on a short-term basis. Benefits of MET include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following.
- Identify and resolve ambivalence. If you do not care about recovery or hold negative beliefs (e.g., “I won’t succeed”), MET strategies can be an important part of treatment.
- Treatment retention and adherence. Exploring reasons to recover in MET sessions can help you feel motivated to stay in treatment.
- Quickly effective. MET is a simple, cost-effective method. As a brief therapy, it is effective in increasing self-efficacy quickly.
Once clients are ready to take action, other treatment methods can be used to create behavior change. For example, 12-step facilitation therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
When is MET Used in Addiction Treatment?
Motivational enhancement therapy can be used in a number of different environments. These include:
- Inpatient treatment programs.
- Outpatient treatment programs.
- Community-based programs.
- Private practice settings.
Purpose Healing Center is an accredited treatment provider offering a full continuum of care for addiction. This includes dedicated medical detox, inpatient treatment, and multiple levels of outpatient care.
Purpose is a Leader in Offering Motivational Enhancement Therapy in Arizona
Purpose Healing Center is an excellent place to find motivational enhancement therapy in Arizona. Our highly qualified team of professionals is versed in personalizing addiction treatment to meet the needs of each unique client.
Our programs MET for addiction alongside other treatments. This lets you get the benefits of more than one type of therapy. For example, while MET can support a patient’s motivation and readiness to stop using drugs and alcohol, other therapies promote self-expression, interpersonal skills, and coping strategies.
Still, this isn’t a complete list of possible therapy goals or benefits. Alongside other principles of successful therapy, it’s important that treatment is tailored to the needs of the individual.
MET and Addressing the Underlying Causes of Addiction
Drug use and associated behaviors (e.g., other addictive behaviors) tend to help people fulfill specific needs. Reasons people use substances can differ significantly.
For example, someone with alcohol use disorder might drink to cope with a mental health condition like social anxiety disorder. Alternatively, a person might use substances to stay awake during long shifts at work.
Rather than focus on external behaviors alone, we target the underlying causes of drug or alcohol use. Recovery is hard work. It takes a great deal of strength, but it’s also incredibly rewarding and worthwhile.
Call Purpose for Comprehensive Addiction Treatment Support
Purpose Healing Center provides comprehensive addiction treatment. With locations in Phoenix and Scottsdale, we use motivational enhancement therapy (MET) alongside other treatments for addiction to facilitate lasting abstinence.
Our centers strive to make quality care accessible throughout the entirety of the recovery process. We accept most forms of insurance, including AHCCCS, and other payment methods to make it possible.
Whether you’re looking for help for yourself or a loved one, please call Purpose Healing Center confidentially to learn more about our programs today.
FAQs About Motivational Enhancement Therapy for Substance Abuse
What is motivational enhancement therapy for substance use?
Motivational enhancement therapy, or MET, is a brief therapy for substance abuse. The goal of MET is to increase your personal motivation to recover.
What is a key skill in motivational enhancement therapy?
Reflective listening is a key skill in MET. When a therapist uses reflective listening, it shows that they understand the patient’s perspective. It can increase trust and help to build a strong therapeutic relationship.
Are motivational interviewing and motivational enhancement therapy the same?
No. While MET was developed from the core principles of motivational interviewing, the two treatments are not the same.
What is motivational interviewing therapy for substance abuse?
Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based therapy technique. It helps clients find their motivation to get and stay abstinent from drugs and alcohol. During sessions, a therapist might ask you questions or use activities like value cards sorting to strengthen your desire to change addictive behaviors.
What are the 5 principles of motivational interviewing?
The five principles of motivational interviewing are expressing empathy, developing discrepancy, avoiding argument, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy.
What are motivational questions for addiction?
Motivational questions for addiction help people explore their relationship with substances, barriers to recovery, the negative effects of using drugs and alcohol, and their willingness to change. These open-ended questions encourage you to talk and share rather than answering with a simple “yes” or “no.”
What is the motivational model of substance abuse?
The motivational model of substance abuse explores people’s motivations for using drugs and alcohol. Identifying why you use substances can be key in improving treatment outcomes because it helps you understand yourself better and explore other, healthier ways to meet your needs.
References
- Motivational enhancement therapy manual. (n.d.-m).
- Raihan, N. (2023, March 6). Stages of change theory. StatPearls [Internet].
- Kumar, S., Srivastava, M., Srivastava, M., Yadav, J. S., & Prakash, S. (2021, January). Effect of motivational enhancement therapy (MET) on the self efficacy of individuals of alcohol dependence. Journal of family medicine and primary care.
- Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-based guide (Third edition). (n.d.-o).
- Substance abuse and mental health services administration advisory page 1 of 10. (n.d.-u).
- Development of the substance use motives measure (SUMM): A comprehensive Eight-factor model for alcohol/drugs consumption – sciencedirect. (n.d.-d).
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