Stages of Change and Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Walking Beside You Through Change
At its core, Cumberland Heights helps people to change in ways that allow them to recover their lives. We walk with people through these stages and listen to them to learn how to best support their change through their own wisdom. Stages of Change therapy and Motivational Interviewing are how we do this.
What is Stages of Change Therapy at Cumberland Heights?
Stage of Change theory and research shows that people go through predictable stages of change when moving from addiction and mental illness to recovery. They may start with no awareness of the need to change to thinking about it, planning for it, and eventually taking action to initiate it and maintain the changes, going back and forth as they move through their journey. Through our “Changing Course” sessions, we teach people these stages so they can identify where they are and what they might do to move forward.
We match our counseling strategies to where they are in the process so that we are best able to assist them. For example, someone who doesn’t believe they have a problem can be exposed to stories that have similar details to theirs so they can make comparisons in a non-threatening way. Someone who is considering change can be assisted with looking at the positives and negatives of making the change or not making the change. We use Stages of Change to support our patients’ integration of new decisions, behaviors, and goals in recovery.
What Is Motivational Interviewing at Cumberland Heights?
Our patients come to use with a part of them that wants to get into recovery and a part of them that wants to continue their old behavior. We acknowledge this as one of the first pieces of evidence that they can be honest with us. We work with the ambivalence, rather than directly confronting it, so we can avoid the pitfalls of getting into power struggles with patients. Rather, we use skills that allow us to show them the ambivalence is inside them and support them in working through this. The method that we use is called Motivational Interviewing.
Motivational Interviewing is a person-centered, collaborative therapy style designed to enhance motivation by drawing out each person’s unique voice. Rather than telling someone what they “should” do, clinicians trained in MI use reflective listening, empathy, and open-ended questions to uncover what a patient is already saying about change.
This includes gently highlighting “change talk” like, “I know I need to do something different” or “I wish things were better.” Clinicians meet clients where they are emotionally, helping them clarify their goals and resolve ambivalence. If a patient pushes back, the response isn’t confrontation, but rather curiosity. We back off and ask: “What are you feeling? What’s getting in the way?”
What to Expect From Sessions
Motivational Interviewing is used in both individual therapy and in group settings like our “Changing Courses” track. Despite the name, these sessions feel more like open, judgment-free conversations than interviews. Clients are asked reflective, empowering questions such as:
“On a scale of 1 to 10, how motivated are you to make this change?”
“If you could wave a wand and everything was how you wanted, what would that look like?”
By guiding people to define their own reasons for recovery, MI helps them take ownership of their next steps. Our clinicians are trained to listen carefully, match strategies to a client’s readiness, and build on small insights to spark lasting behavioral change.
Whether used in a brief conversation or as part of a structured therapy plan, Motivational Interviewing empowers people to take that first, meaningful step toward recovery—on their own terms.
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As a preeminent leader in clinically excellent, evidence-based practices and recovery success stories, Cumberland Heights is also Tennessee’s first ASAM-accredited treatment program. Our team of experienced addiction professionals will tailor a plan for your needs.
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