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