Strengthening Motivation – Helping Peers Find Their ‘Why’

Motivation is the driving force behind change, but it must come from within. In Motivational Interviewing (MI), strengthening motivation is about guiding peers to discover their own reasons for change, rather than imposing external pressure.

💡 Key Insight: People are more committed to change when they understand why it matters to them personally. MI helps peers connect with their own motivations.

🔹 Why Strengthening Motivation Matters in Peer Support
✔ Encourages Self-Discovery – Helps peers clarify why change is important to them.
✔ Increases Commitment – When motivation comes from within, it is more sustainable.
✔ Builds Confidence – Recognizing personal reasons for change strengthens self-efficacy.
✔ Reduces Resistance – When peers feel in control of their choices, they are more likely to take action.

💡 Pro Tip: Instead of trying to convince a peer to change, ask questions that help them uncover their own reasons for wanting to change.

🔹 Techniques for Strengthening Motivation
✔ Ask Open-Ended Questions – Encourage deeper thinking.
✔ Use Reflections & Summaries – Reinforce key insights.
✔ Highlight Past Successes – Remind peers of previous achievements.
✔ Reframe Negative Thinking – Shift the focus from obstacles to strengths.

Example:
🔹 Peer: “I want to get sober, but I don’t think I can.”
🔹 Facilitator: “It sounds like you really want to make a change, but you’re unsure if it’s possible. What has helped you overcome challenges in the past?”

💡 Pro Tip: Peers often feel stuck because they focus on what they can’t do—help them explore what they can do instead.

🔹 Using the Importance & Confidence Scale
A great way to gauge motivation is by using a 1–10 scale to assess how important change feels and how confident the peer is in their ability to make it.

✔ Importance Question: “On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is this change to you?”
✔ Confidence Question: “On a scale of 1 to 10, how confident are you that you can make this change?”
✔ Follow-Up: “Why did you choose that number and not a lower one?” (Encourages reflection on strengths and motivation.)

💡 Pro Tip: If a peer scores low, ask what would help increase their number—this invites problem-solving without pressure.

🔹 Key Takeaways
✔ Strengthening motivation is about helping peers connect with their personal reasons for change.
✔ Using open-ended questions, reflections, and past successes builds motivation.
✔ The Importance & Confidence Scale is a powerful tool for gauging readiness.
✔ Peers are more likely to take action when they feel in control of their choices.

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