Motivational Interviewing (MI) is particularly valuable for chronic pain when ambivalence about change is blocking recovery.
Ambivalence in Chronic Pain
People with chronic pain are often ambivalent about change — part wants relief, part fears the unknown of being without familiar chronic pain patterns. This is normal, not resistance.
How MI Addresses Chronic Pain Ambivalence
MI uses specific techniques to help people explore and resolve their ambivalence about chronic pain treatment:
- Reflective listening: Hearing and naming both sides of chronic pain ambivalence
- Decisional balance: Exploring pros and cons of changing vs. staying the same with chronic pain
- Evoking change talk: Drawing out the person's own reasons for addressing chronic pain
- Affirming strengths: Highlighting past capacities relevant to chronic pain recovery
MI in Chronic Pain Treatment Settings
MI is integrated into many chronic pain treatment approaches as an engagement tool. It's particularly useful at the beginning of treatment and when motivation fluctuates.