Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People for Change

"The methods of Miller and Rollnick have been truly groundbreaking for those who work in the field of addictions.

Addiction had become known as one of the least tractable and most complex of conditions. Apart from traditional Twelve Step Facilitation, very few therapeutic interventions were found to be significantly effective. There had been some hope that CBT might prove useful - but recent research seems not to support this.

Because of the thorough and systematic nature of the techniques developed by Miller and Rollnick, this situation has now changed. Statistical studies seem to show that Motivational Interviewing does indeed have a significant impact on patterns of substance misuse. The book explains clearly the techniques available and provides a thorough grounding in the theoretical and practical applications of the method.

Motivational Interviewing is essential reading for everyone who works with addiction professionally."
~ Written on 2008-03-18

"I found this book very helpful indeed and many of its techniques have been successful in my practice."
~ Written on 2007-10-31

"Miller and Rollnick have systematised a number of motivational enhancement techniques which have been used, intuitively, by therapists for several decades. In doing so, they have performed a valuable service.

As a therapist working with addicted individuals in Cambridge, I have been using the Rollnick-Miller synthesis of MI for some years now - in conjunction with 'stages of change' methodology. The following are my principal observations.

Through the use of these MI techniques, I have had some success in helping clients to move from the 'pre-contemplation' stage of the spiral of change to the stage of 'contemplation'. Sessions and strategies of Motivational Interviewing have also proved useful in expediting progress from contemplation, through preparation, to action.

I have found, however, that there are three main problems with Motivational Interviewing. Firstly, it has proved relatively ineffective unless repeatedly reinforced and combined with other therapeutic interventions. Secondly the benefits thus gained take a long period of time to become evident. Thirdly these benefits are often of short duration. In its application to addiction, MI does not seem to reduce significantly the incidence of relapse.

For these reasons, I now use MI only in the initial stages of therapy. Thereafter, in order to help clients to maintain recovery, I have reverted to the use of more prescriptive techniques - in particular, CBT and Twelve Step referral.

'Motivational Interviewing' is a very expensive book for the slender results that it yields. Borrow it from a public library, if you can. Then decide if you think it's worth buying."
~ Written on 2007-09-26

"I searched the internet for months - looking for books or any kind of teaching aids - that could shine just a tiny ray of light - onto communicating effectively with people who have any kind of addiction problems.

This book is a masterpiece.
With a basis in the teaching and counselling methods of Carl Rogers, taken further into the specialist field of addiction - It describes in such careful detail the most gentle, most understanding - most effective ways to communicate....so that you will learn the most helpful ways - to inspire change, & how to discover, and be supportive of the addicted person's smallest inclination to change.

It is not a book about fixing things - controlling anyone - or changing minds ... but about how best to support, encourage and inspire someone you care about - to develop their own decisions.. that may be life saving.

It is a book suitable for professional counsellors - but it is written in a lucid style which is equally comprehensible to any one with an interest in the topic.

Carefully chosen words of encouragement and support - given at the right time - to people whose own insecurity and self doubt may make them aggressive and defensive against all approaches that seem to be attempts to change or guide them.....
...may seem to you, as they did to me - to be impossible to find.

Read this book. It will help you to find them."
~ Written on 2005-06-28