Motivational Enhancement Therapy
MET is a directive, person-centered approach to therapy that focuses on improving an individual’s motivation to change. Those who engage in self-destructive behaviors may often be ambivalent or have little motivation to change such behaviors, despite acknowledging the negative impact of said behaviors on their health, occupation, family life, or social functioning.
The primary goal of MET is to help individuals overcome their ambivalence or resistance to behavior change. MET focuses on increasing intrinsic motivation by raising awareness of a problem, adjusting any self-defeating thoughts regarding the problem, and increasing confidence in one’s ability to change. Instead of identifying a problem and telling a person in therapy what to do about it, the therapist encourages a person in therapy to make self-motivating statements that display a clear understanding of the problem and a resolve to change.
Although MET may be used as a stand-alone treatment, it is more often employed in conjunction with other forms of therapy. This type of therapy can also serve as a form of pretreatment that may increase a person’s motivation to start a more specific form of therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. MET might also be used along with a different form of therapy to reinforce one’s motivation to change.