How do You Know When Someone With an Addiction is Motivated to Change?
A client displays his motivation by his behaviour, by what he does (or fails to do):
“In general, we know that our clients are motivated when they get moving – take their medication as prescribed, go to AA meetings, show up for sessions on time, complete their homework assignments, or find a job…..doing something, almost anything, to get better is one of the strongest predictors of success in overcoming alcohol or drug problems” (Miller, 1998).
Indicators for a readiness to change:
- Decreased resistance
- Decreased discussion about the problem
- Resolve
- Change Talk
- Questions about change
- Envisioning
- Experimenting