How to Chart Changes of Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing is a therapeutic technique developed by Stephen Rollnick and William R. Miller. In the journal Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, they defined it as "a directive, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence." This method helps professionals use intervention to address various types of problem behaviors such as substance abuse, eating disorders, criminal behavior and unsafe sex. As clients resolve ambivalence, they move through the stages of change. You can chart changes by identifying the client's current stage of change.

Things You'll Need

• Stages of Change chart (see references)
• Pen
• Paper

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Instructions

• 1

  Learn about the Stages of Change. Clients in precontemplation do not consider their behavior to be a problem. In contemplation, a person is not sure whether he or she wants to change. When in preparation, your client will start making plans to change. If your client is in the action stage, he or she has implemented a plan and changed his or her behavior. Those in the maintenance stage are working hard not to slip into old habits. When in relapse, your client will have returned to the problem behavior.

• 2

  Assess at each interview. If you've already discussed the stages of change with your client, you can ask the person to identify what stage he or she is in. You can also assess your client's comments or recent behaviors. For example, a client who complains that no one respects his or her new rule of "no smoking in the house" is probably contemplating quitting smoking.

• 3

  Document the client's current stage of change in your charting. Remember that moving through the stages of change is progress, even if your client is still engaging in the problem behavior. Also note which interview technique you've used, such as "roll with resistance" or "empathic listening."