Addiction is a complex brain disease, and many people with substance use disorder (SUD) are ambivalent about receiving treatment. Specific counseling approaches like motivational enhancement therapy for addictive behavior can influence those with SUD to engage in treatment and begin their recovery.
MET for addiction is a unique approach to treatment that professionals can customize easily to fit each patient’s needs.
If you’re interested in learning more about motivation enhancement therapy for addictive behavior, our dedicated team of doctors and recovery specialists is here for you. Call Sierra Sage Recovery Services today at 833.922.2884 to learn more about this innovative and effective solution.
Understanding Motivational Enhancement Therapy
Motivational enhancement therapy is a hybrid treatment model focused on both counseling and intervention services. The end goal of MET for addiction is to promote positive change in the patient and lead them to engage in follow-up recovery care.
Motivational enhancement therapy for addiction is often used alongside other forms of counseling. These counseling services may include:
- A 12-step program (e.g., AA, NA)
- Family therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Motivational enhancement therapy begins with an initial assessment of the patient. After this assessment, targeted sessions are designed uniquely to an individual’s struggles with addiction. All sessions aim to help the patient acquire strategies to adjust behaviors and thoughts. Once these changes take place, the patient should be able or willing to cope with triggers.
Early Stages of MET
Early on, sessions revolve heavily around goal setting and identifying triggers. As MET sessions progress, they become more reflective. These sessions help patients evaluate their progress as they move forward in their recovery. Sessions also encourage rewards for accomplishments and recovery milestones.
How MET Combats Addiction
There are many reasons a person may become addicted to drugs or alcohol. For some, addiction begins as recreational substance use. For others, addiction results from underlying and untreated mental health conditions.
In either case, MET can be a way to balance out the treatment of the body with the treatment of the mind. A recovering addict’s physician will respond to the body’s physical reaction to a need for certain substances. At the same time, the motivational enhancement therapist focuses on thought and behavior patterns linked to substance use.
MET is a treatment approach designed to consider co-occurring mental disorders. These might include eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and others.
Techniques Used in Motivational Enhancement Therapy
No matter how many sessions a patient integrates into their MET plan, the idea is always to encourage feelings of motivational change. When this treatment is successful, the patient develops confidence and willingness to undergo further addiction treatment.
- Empathy: MET focuses on helping someone suffering from an addiction to learning to express empathy. Empathy allows recovering addicts to understand how their actions affect those around them. It’s also a critical skill in building trust with therapists helping in the recovery process.
- Acceptance: The ability to accept resistance and avoid arguments through treatment is also vital. Those in recovery or entering recovery must recognize they will encounter triggers and stressors.
- Reason: Finally, MET teaches patients to recognize the drastic differences between reality and the thoughts they may experience. Often, these distorted thoughts (also known as cognitive distortions) are what trigger addictive behaviors. Understanding if a difference exists at all is key to a successful recovery.
Learn More About Resolving Addictive Behavior at Sierra Sage
There’s no reason to struggle with addiction alone. If you or a loved one is looking to combat addiction and take back the life you deserve, the team at Sierra Sage is here to help.
Call Sierra Sage today at 833.922.2884 to learn more about motivational enhancement therapy for addiction. You can also use our convenient online form to get in touch and learn more about our services.
