Motivational Interviewing

Finding New Positives in Sober Living

There are many different reasons why prospective patients don’t want to fully commit to the rehab process. Sometimes, patients don’t want to give up the positives they still attribute to substance abuse. In other cases, patients only equate sober living with negatives or boredom. Motivational Interviewing substance abuse treatment debunks both lines of thought.

During Motivational Interviewing, or MI, patients are asked to find the positives of sobriety. For example, a patient might think about the financial benefits of breaking free from addiction. Being sober means being able to hold down a job, and it also means spending less on drugs or alcohol. That, in turn, might mean patients don’t have to ask family for money, and they can have the cash for travel, a home deposit or a new wardrobe.

patients might also focus on the positive changes that sobriety can bring to relationships. Sobriety might mean that patients can rekindle relationships with old friends or spend more time with their children. By focusing on these positive developments, patients will be more motivated to commit to their own recovery.

Ambivalence as the Opposite of Progress

patients can check into Residential Treatment centers and make progress even if they aren’t 100 percent ready to make changes. Over time, it is possible to become increasingly focused and eager to improve your health. However, ambivalence can be an obstacle. In many ways, it is the opposite of positive forward progress.

If patients are just coasting through rehab, they can still gain many benefits. To maximize recovery, however, and to learn and absorb as much as possible, a positive outlook is helpful. With Motivational Interviewing, patients will be forced out of ambivalence. Making a plan, and getting motivated to move forward, is the best way to approach lasting and lifelong recovery.