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