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