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