Smoking Cessation Planning, Essay Example

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a counseling method, which is used to elicit behavioral change by assisting the client in exploring and resolving ambivalence. The goal of the counseling method is to assist the client change the behavior of smoking, which is addictive and is more persuasive than coercive, more support than argumentative. The aim of the intervention is to increase client’s intrinsic motivation so that change arises from within other than being imposed from without.

From the video, to assist the patient quit smoking, there is the need to apply the four primary principles of MI. First, there is the need to show empathy to the client by listening carefully and accepting her views without passing any form of judgment on her. Second, a discrepancy must be developed, in which the client rather than the counselor is presenting the arguments for the needed change. In this scenario, change is motivated by a perceived discrepancy between the current behavior and crucial personal values or goals. Third, the principle is rolling with resistance.

Motivational interviewing encourages counselors to meet reactivity with reframes, as well as reflections. In the video, the counselor should see the resistance of the client as an opportunity to redirect energy toward a positive focus, which implies that the counselor should turn the perceived resistance during the counseling session to an opportunity. Fourth, the principle is supported self-efficacy. This is where the client should be encouraged to believe in her ability to carry out and succeed in quitting smoking. Self-efficacy is a fundamental element in motivation for quitting smoking and is a good predictor of treatment outcome. The counselor should provide hope and instill confidence in the client and highlighting area that the client has changed.