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Motivation: What It Is and How to

Keep ItPresented by: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes

Executive Director, AllCEUsHost: Counselor Toolbox & Happiness Isn’t Brain Surgery

Objectives Define motivation Identify the 5 principles of motivational

enhancement Review the concepts of motivation Identify the types of motivation and ways to

enhance them

Think About It… Why do people change? What is motivation? Can individuals' motivation to change their

behavior be modified? Do clinicians have a role in enhancing

clients' motivation for recovery?

What is Motivation Motivation is a combination of desire,

willingness and ability to do something. Effectively enhancing motivation requires

Empathy and understanding Identifying discrepancies between your desired

situation and your current situation Overcoming resistance to change (more

rewarding behaviors or fears about change) Supporting self-efficacy

What is Motivation cont… Change involves:

Recognizing that something needs to be done Increasing Motivation

Defining the problem (create crisis) and the end goal (identify the solution)

Identifying the benefits to doing what you need to reach your goal

Addressing the drawbacks to doing what you need to reach your goal

Creating a plan Implementing that plan Adjusting the plan as needed to ensure that working toward

this goal is more rewarding than staying the same

What is motivation Motivation is doing something to get a reward Assumptions about the nature of motivation:

Motivation is a key to change Motivation is multidimensional Motivation is dynamic and fluctuating

When the going gets tough, motivation gets going Motivation can be modified

Additional rewards can be added to make the new behavior more rewarding, even in the face of adversity

Motivation is a key to change Think about the last time you were not

motivated to do something? Resistance is often…

A lack of motivation for the new behavior More motivation for the old behavior

One of the first steps in developing motivation for change is to create a crisis What are the problems with the current situation? In what ways will the change be worth the effort?

Motivation is multidimensional Emotional: Makes the person happy Mental: Is the logical choice Physical: Improves physical health, energy

or reduces pain Social: Improves relationship with self or

others, elicits positive feedback from self and others

Environmental: Makes the environment more comfortable

Interventions Create the Crisis

Examine the ways that the mood issues or addictive behaviors impact each area of wellness

Recognize that each negative impact is likely the result of energy shortages.

Identify individualized interventions Identify ways to reduce stress and improve each area of

wellness Highlight motivations for change in as many areas

as possible Define and identify motivations to change in each

dimension.

Motivation is Dynamic and Fluctuating When the going gets tough, motivation gets

going

Motivation is a combination of Commitment (Willingness) Control (Self-Efficacy) Challenge

Too easy and too hard procrastination

Reasons Motivation Wanes No (effective) Plan Distractions Drawbacks Negative Motivation--Avoiding pain instead

of achieving a reward Extrinsic Motivation—Depending on the

outside world

Motivation Can Be Modified Enhance the benefits to change and the

drawbacks to staying the same (Green=Go) Minimize the benefits to staying the same

and the drawbacks to change (Red = Stop/Remove)Benefits to change

Emotional, mental, physical, social, environmental

Benefits to Staying the Same

Emotional, mental, physical, social, environmental

Drawbacks to changeEmotional, mental, physical, social, environmental

Drawbacks to Staying the Same

Emotional, mental, physical, social, environmental

Stages of Change Precontemplation: “I’m okay”

ReluctantIncrease knowledge or awareness about

the problem, and the personal impact it is having

RebelliousShift energy from fear of losing control

to making lemonade Resigned

Rekindle hope and optimism by highlighting successes, strengths and supports

Stages of Change Contemplation: “It’s getting a little hot, but I’m

okay” Address ambivalence by tipping the decisional

balance scales Address anxiety and grief about change Help clients visualize change

Preparation: “I’m just gonna stick my toe in and see how it feels.” Increase self efficacy and hardiness (C3) Begin learning about the issues Identify motivations in each area and create small

successes for components of the goal

Stages of Change Preparation cont…

Clarify goals and strategiesIdentify and address barriers to changeHighlight strengths and past successful

strategiesGarner social supportEnvision change and find motivating stories

from others

Stages of Change Action: “I’m tired of being hot.”

Identify ways to ensure motivation is maintained (Mindfulness)

Identify triggers, how they could cause relapse and how to deal with them

Maintenance: Enjoy your successes. Step back and look

how far you’ve come. Stay mindful of continuing to “work your

program.” Remaining vigilant for relapse triggers.

Make minor adjustments as needed.

Stages of Change Relapse: Cold pool uncomfortable

Jump out Relapse means falling back into old ways of

thinking and acting Relapse is not a requirement for recovery The earlier you catch a relapse the better Relapse is an opportunity for learning about

What triggered the relapseWhat things need to be addressed to keep

recovery the most rewarding choice

Enhancing Motivation The PIES Approach

Proximity: Provide intervention in the natural environment

Immediacy: Intervene as soon as the problem or loss of motivation is noticed

Expectancy: Expect the intervention to be successful and emphasize self-efficacy

Simplicity: Listen, show empathy, and demonstrate understanding.

Tips The more types of motivation involved, the

stronger the motivational force Signs of decreasing motivation

Failure to attempt change “Resistance” Excuses and “yes, buts” Lack of enthusiasm

Have client’s rate their motivation on each target behavior (not goal) each day. Goal: Lose 15 pounds

Target behavior: Go to the gymTarget behavior: Drink 8 glasses of water

Motivation is Behavior Specific Goals & Target Behavior

Goal: Improve happiness (address depression)Target Behavior: Take medicationTarget Behavior: Walk 30 minutesTarget Behavior: When I feel sad, write in my

journal Goal: Improve Stress Management (reduce

anxiety)Target Behavior 1: Get adequate sleepTarget Behavior 2: Delegate unnecessary stressorsTarget Behavior 3: Reduce caffeine

Emotional Motivation Things that make the person happy Decisional Balance: Identify all the reasons

Increase theseThe new behavior makes the person happy The old behavior adds distress

Decrease theseThe old behavior makes the person happy The new behavior adds distress

Especially useful with people who have a “Feeling” temperament.

Mental Motivation Things that the person sees as logical Available information to support desired behavior Decisional Balance: Identify all the reasons

Increase theseThe new behavior is logical and helpful to achieving goalsThe old behavior is unhelpful to achieving goals

Decrease theseThe old behavior is logical and helpful to achieving goalsThe new behavior is unhelpful to achieving goals

Especially useful with people who have a “Thinking” temperament.

Social Motivation Things that increase the person’s self-esteem/self-

acceptance Things that increase social approval/acceptance Decisional Balance: Identify all the reasons

Increase these The new behavior increases self-acceptance/approval & other

acceptance/approval The old behavior is in opposition to their self-concept The old behavior leads to rejection/isolation

Decrease these The old behavior is socially rewarding The new behavior does not provide self or other rewards (i.e.

changing people, places, things)

Environmental Motivation Identifying ways the new behavior will allow the

person to improve their environment People: Kindred spirits Places: Vacation, better neighborhood, nice restaurant Things: upgraded car, redecorating

Decisional balance: In what ways will the new behavior improve the

environment In what was did the old behavior

Create a comfortable environment (What will you miss?)Create an uncomfortable environment

Summary Motivation is essential to behavior change Motivation involves “choosing” the behavior that

provides the greatest rewards for the effort Increasing motivation means enhancing rewards

and reducing punishments/drawbacks Motivation is behavior, not goal, specific. There are 5 phases of readiness or steps to

change which clients will bounce between. Waning motivation is one of the most overlooked

components to relapse. Relapse is not a necessary component of

recovery