Motivational Enhancement Therapy

Mental health conditions can impact every aspect of your life. Living with a mental health disorder can put a strain on relationships, impair functioning, and have other effects.  

It is possible to manage mental health symptoms by getting comprehensive treatment and continuing support. Therapy is a critical aspect of a holistic mental health treatment program. People have a wide range of differing needs during treatment. There are several forms of therapy that can benefit people with a range of conditions. 

This article will explore a type of therapy called motivational enhancement therapy (MET). You will learn:

• How MET works
• The benefits of motivational enhancement therapy
• How MET can fit into a mental health treatment program
• Where to find effective mental health support and support programs

If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use disorder or a mental health condition, you are not alone. Contact the Agape Behavioral specialists to explore our comprehensive mental treatment and support programs. 

What is Motivational Enhancement Therapy?

Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) is a type of short-term therapy. Mental health practitioners may use MET to help people develop and maintain internal motivation to change. 

One of the benefits of MET is that it can produce meaningful results in a short period. Here is an overview of the history and process of this therapeutic approach. 

History

A team of therapists began studying addiction treatment in 1989. The study lasted for eight years. During this time, they evaluated the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational enhancement therapy (MET), and 12-step therapy.

The researchers were attempting to find the most effective form of addiction therapy. MET had positive results when used as a short-term intervention. Since then, practitioners have been using it to complement other evidence-based therapies and treatments to treat addiction. 

Goals

The goal of MET is to increase intrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation is a person’s own motivation to change. It describes their own desire to work toward sobriety instead of external reasons to stop engaging in destructive behaviors.

Motivational enhancement therapy initially works to increase a client’s internal motivation. When the client feels motivated to change, they work with the therapists to make a plan of action. 

MET does not require people to have a goal of total sobriety. Instead, complete sobriety is an option the client can choose if they feel motivated to do so.

Motivational enhancement therapy is different from CBT and other counseling approaches. MET does not begin with the assumption that a client wants to change. Instead, it consists of strategies that can boost people’s motivation to change. 

Stages

There are six stages of change outlined in the MET approach. Understanding these stages can help people envision the addiction treatment process. The six stages are:

• Pre-contemplation
• Contemplation
• Determination
• Action
• Maintenance
• Relapse 

The motivational enhancement technique accepts that relapse is likely to be part of a person’s recovery journey. However, people who relapse can then return to the contemplation stage and begin again. 

Techniques

MET uses many of the same techniques as Motivational Interviewing (MI) but follows a different structure. Motivational Interviewing can benefit people with eating disorders, substance abuse, high blood pressure, and other conditions. Mental health practitioners only use MET to treat substance use disorder. 

Some of the techniques therapists use in MET include:

• Expressing empathy
• Develop discrepancy
• Avoid arguments
• Accept resistance
• Support self-efficacy

MET is a client-centered therapy. This means the therapist empowers their clients to make changes when they are ready to do so. 

What are the Benefits of MET?

Research into the effectiveness of motivational enhancement therapy shows that it is a practical short-term therapeutic approach. Here are some of the most significant benefits of MET. 

Resolving ambivalence

One of MET’s most important motivational principles is that motivation must come from within a person. The therapist does not use external rewards or consequences to shape a client’s behavior. Instead, the therapist works to create an environment where the client develops their own motivation to change. 

Keeping people engaged in treatment

MET can keep people active and engaged in the treatment process. People typically attend just a few MET sessions during inpatient or outpatient treatment. During these sessions, people examine their own motivation to work toward sobriety. 

The techniques therapists use in MET sessions can help people feel more empowered during treatment. This empowerment can help to keep people committed to the recovery process. 

Fewer harmful behaviors

People who receive MET may have reduced harmful behaviors, including drug and alcohol abuse. People in MET learn to identify and change unhealthy behaviors. They develop motivation to make healthier choices about substance abuse and other behaviors.

Find Treatment Now

If you or someone you love lives with a mental health condition or substance use disorder (SUD), you are not alone. Contact the Agape Behavioral specialists to learn about our comprehensive treatment and support programs. You may also schedule an intake appointment at our treatment facility. 

References:

1. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice: A qualitative interview study of patient experiences of receiving motivational enhancement therapy in a Swedish addiction specialist treatment setting
2. National Institute of Health (NIH): Effect of Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) on the self efficacy of Individuals of Alcohol dependence
3. Wiley Online Library: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials of Motivational Enhancement Therapy for Reducing Substance Use