Client experiences of motivational interviewing: An interpersonal process recall study. (15th April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jones, Sarah A.; Latchford, Gary; Tober, Gillian
• Is Part Of: Psychology and psychotherapy. Volume 89:Part 1(2016:Mar.)
• Page Start: 97
• Page End: 114
• Publication Date: 2015-04-15
• Subjects: qualitative research methods -- process research -- motivational interviewing -- interpersonal process recall; Clinical psychology -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Mental illness -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1111/papt.12061
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1476-0835

Abstract

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 utilizes 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 the 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 MI previously hypothesized 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 hypothesized to underlie the effectiveness of MI, including a non‐confrontational approach, affirmation, and developing discrepancies between beliefs and behaviour. These were embedded in aspects common to all therapies, including the qualities of the therapist and the therapeutic relationship. Client's perspectives on therapeutic processes are an important area of research, and IPR is a particularly suitable method.