Client experiences of motivational interviewing: An interpersonal process recall study

Abstract

Objectives. To explore clients' experience of the therapy process in Motivational Interviewing (MI) for alcohol abuse. Design.A qualitative study using Grounded Theory. Methods.Interviews with nine clients were conducted using Interpersonal Process Recall (IPR), a methodology which utlises a video recording as a cue to aid memory recall. Clients watched a videotape of their MI session and were asked to identify and describe important moments in the therapy session. The transcribed interviews were then analysed using Grounded Theory. Results.A single session of MI is seen by the clients in this study as a complex interpersonal interaction between client and therapist, which impacts on the client's cognitive and affective intrapersonal processes. Conclusions.The themes which emerged partly confirm processes of motivational interviewing previously hypothesised to be important, but also highlight the importance of factors common to all therapeutic approaches. Practitioner points The aspects of therapy which clients in this study felt were important are similar to those hypothesised to underlie the effectiveness of MI, including a nonconfrontational approach, affirmation, and developing discrepancies between beliefs and behaviour.

Using interpersonal process recall to compare patients’ accounts of resistance in two psychotherapies for generalized anxiety disorder

“…Overall, the present results suggest that ambivalence and resistance should not be conceptualized as pejorative patient characteristics or behaviors (Westra, ), but rather a result of the relationship between the therapist and patient that has complex inputs from the patient's pathology, the patient's nondiagnostic characteristics, the dyadic climate, the treatment, the given moment, and so forth. On this point, our results are strikingly similar to Jones and colleagues’ () examination of patient experiences of MI for alcohol abuse. Also using IPR, these investigators reported: “A single session of MI is seen by the clients…as a complex interpersonal interaction between client and therapist, which impacts on the client's cognitive and affective intrapersonal processes” (p. 97).…”

“…Thus, it also seems important to gather information directly from the patient when they are in the therapy process. To do so, some researchers have used the interpersonal process recall (IPR) method, a video‐assisted interview to access conscious yet unspoken patient experiences while engaged in professional services (Elliott, ; Jones, Latchford, & Tober, ).…”

Enhancing Empathy in Emotion-Focused Group Therapy for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Conceptualization Model for Interpersonal Rupture and Repair

“…The therapists' response to intra-and interpersonal relational difficulties are twofold: first in the moment, by scaffolding relational tasks; and, second, by Interpersonal Process Recall (IPR). Researchers have used the IPR method, as a video-assisted interview to access conscious yet unspoken patient experiences while engaged in professional services (Jones et al 2016). Here, IPR was developed to support therapeutic tasks to deepen experiential processing of self and other within EFGT for clients with ASD.…”

Minding the gaps: Using narrative accounts to explore people's experiences of using North Staffs MIND's Adult Counselling Service

“…In terms of counsellor skills, the most helpful elements appear to be a therapist who listens and shows understanding (Glass & Arnkoff, 2000;Duncan & Miller, 2000;Clarke, Rees & Hardy, 2004;Fitzpatrick, Janzen, Chamodraka, Gamberg & Blake, 2009;Gostas, Wiberg, Neander & Kjekkin, 2012;Jones, Latchford & Tober, 2016). From the available evidence being listened to conveys the idea that the therapist is paying attention to the client, reinforcing to the client that they are being heard.…”