Motivational Enhancement Treatment

Abstract The counseling and treatment approach that promotes motivation to change is motivational enhancement therapy (MET) and related strategies. This counseling strategy helps a client to address their reluctance about participating in counseling and making a commitment to change. The theoretical underpinnings of MET is the transtheoretical Stage of Change (SOC) model. This model posits that the behavioral health change process involves progress through six stages of change: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, relapse, and maintenance. A common clinical approach as part of MET is motivational interviewing: The therapist uses feedback to help elicit “change talk” from the youth and eventually have them make a commitment to change. MET is typically delivered in conjunction with other treatment approaches to treat adolescents with a substance use disorder and co-occurring disorders.