Assignment:
At least 200 words for each reply (there are 3)
- At least one scholarly citation in APA format.
- Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years.
- Acceptable sources include the Bible, course texts, relevant books, and peer-reviewed articles.
Denise Mize
Reply from Denise Mize
- Give an example of Marci's "change talk."
Marci example of "change talk" includes where she does admit that her relationship between her parents have "soured" which she shared guilt and remorse for her actions since she has started to smoke marijuana and drink excessively to the point of getting a DWI. Marci does express that she has sadness and worry since her arrest as to how she got to this low. In the assessment I do not remember Marci ever stating that she had a desire to change as she saw nothing wrong in her drinking and smoking marijuana. Change talk would be one could express desire, reasons, and abilities to change (Miller & Rollnick, 2023). Need Assignment Help?
- Give an example of Marci's "sustain talk."
Marci did share with friends that she has been depressed and anxious but did not feel that there was a need to stop smoking marijuana or drinking. Marci stated that she is aware that marijuana does have an impact on her motivation but still has the desire to smoke marijuana as it gives her pleasure relaxes her. Sustain talk will be where one will lean to stay with the familiar even with a desire to change (Miller & Rollnick, 2023).
- Where is her ambivalence coming from? Why do you think it is there?
I think that Marci's ambivalence comes from a pure place because she has no malicious desire to harm her relationship with parents or others. I think that Marci is in active addiction that she does know that harm she is doing to herself and others but she is not strong enough to fight against it. Marci also conflicted because she is failing in her studies which lead to self hatred as she is disappointing her parents and herself because she has been raised better than to let an addiction to take over and herself destructing.
- Write one sentence for each letter of OARS that you could use with her.
O-open ended question
- What has been your ah-ha moment to understand that you smoking marijuana and drinking excessively has caused everything that you work for in high school and college to slowly disappear?
A-affirmation
- It is good that you have been able to understand how it has been your actions that have caused you to be at the current situation.
R-reflection
- While you admit that marijuana has been able to help you relax and calm down but you also stated that marijuana increases your depression and causes paranoia.
S-summary
- You are feeling embarrassment and anger to attend counseling, however you do realize that drinking excessively and smoking marijuana has landed you in the current situation, you see no harm in doing the same actions of smoking and drinking.
- How could you use MI's process of "evoking" to help her resolve any ambivalence and encourage her in a direction of change?
Marci has not given me the impression that she was striving to change as she did not think that what she was doing was harmful to her. I think that if she had not gotten caught then she would not have been made to attend counseling.
I would try to appeal to the young lady that her parents raised and remind her of what her ultimate goal was of being an attorney. Marci was once very involved in church activities then I could help her remember her morals, values and faith that she was raised with. With evoking, one is to elicit a person's own motivation for change. I do not believe Marci was looking to change her behavior.
Try to find two Scriptural references that could apply to the process of evoking, and how you would seek to use them in working with Marci.
Romans 12:2. (NIV): "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."
I would remind Marci that smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol are evil of this world as it causes many complicated issues, such as with legal and relationships but she could be more mindful of her values and morals of her upbringing.
Proverbs 27:17. (NIV): "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another"
Evoking is eliciting a person's own motivation for change. So with this I would see exactly what Marci could list as a motivation for her change. I think that I could get her siblings involved in a way because they are not using and it says one person sharpens another so I would say that her brother and sister would be motivators to get clean and be a better role model for them.
References:
Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2023). Motivational interviewing: Helping people change and grow (4th ed.). Guilford Press.
Shawnna Collins
Reply from Shawnna Collins
- Give an example of Marci's "change talk."
Change talk refers to client statements that favor movement toward change and reflect desire, ability, reasons, need, or commitment (Miller & Rollnick, 2023). In Marci's narrative, her acknowledgment that her substance use is affecting her relationships and functioning represents change talk. For example, when she expresses concern about how her behavior is impacting her family or admits she does not want to continue the same patterns she observed growing up, she is verbalizing discrepancy between her current behavior and her values. This indicates emerging motivation for change.
- Give an example of Marci's "sustain talk."
Sustain talk consists of statements that support maintaining the status quo (Miller & Rollnick, 2023). Marci's comments that substances help her cope with stress or that "things are not that bad" illustrate sustain talk. When she minimizes consequences or highlights perceived benefits of use, she is defending continuation of her current behavior. Sustain talk reflects ambivalence rather than resistance and signals unresolved internal conflict.
- Where is her ambivalence coming from? Why do you think it is there?
Ambivalence is the coexistence of opposing motivations regarding change (Miller & Rollnick, 2023). In Marci's case, ambivalence likely stems from intergenerational substance use patterns and learned coping mechanisms within her family system. Substance use has functioned as emotional regulation and relational bonding in her history, while also producing harm. Research emphasizes that addiction is embedded in relational and family contexts, which complicates motivation for change (Kourgiantakis et al., 2021). Marci is likely torn between familiarity and fear of repeating harmful patterns.
- Write one sentence for each letter of OARS that you could use with her.
Open-ended question: "What concerns you most about how your substance use is affecting your life right now?"
Affirmation: "It takes courage to honestly look at patterns that have been part of your family for so long."
Reflection: "Part of you relies on substances to cope, and another part is worried about where that path leads."
Summary: "You value your family and stability, yet you feel unsure how to manage stress without using."
- How could you use MI's process of "evoking" to help her resolve any ambivalence and encourage her in a direction of change?
Evoking is the process of drawing out the client's own motivations for change rather than imposing reasons from the counselor (Miller & Rollnick, 2023). With Marci, this would involve selectively reinforcing change talk, exploring discrepancies between her values and behavior, and asking evocative questions such as, "What would life look like if you felt more in control?" By reflecting and amplifying her statements that favor change, the counselor strengthens intrinsic motivation and supports self-efficacy.
- Try to find two Scriptural references that could apply to the process of evoking, and how you would seek to use them in working with Marci.
Proverbs 20:5 states, "The purposes of a person's heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out" (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version [ESV], 2001). This reflects the MI principle of evoking and drawing out what is already within the client rather than directing from outside.
James 1:5 (ESV, 2001) encourages seeking wisdom from God when facing difficult decisions. This can support Marci in prayerfully reflecting on her choices and aligning them with her values. Scriptural integration would be client-centered and only incorporated with her consent, reinforcing autonomy while encouraging spiritual reflection.
References:
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). Crossway.
Kourgiantakis, T., Ashcroft, R., Mohamud, F., Fearing, G., & Sanders, J. (2021). Family-focused practices in addictions: A scoping review. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 21(1), 18-53.
Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2023). Motivational interviewing: Helping people change and grow (4th ed.). Guilford Press.
Tené Everett
Reply from Tené Everett
Evoking Ambivalence in Motivational Interviewing: Application to Marci's Case
Motivational Interviewing (MI) conceptualizes ambivalence as a normal and necessary part of the behavior change process rather than a form of resistance (Miller & Rollnick, 2023). Individuals struggling with substance use often experience simultaneous desires to maintain current behaviors and to change them, resulting in psychological conflict. Hart and Ksir (2022) note that emerging adulthood is a developmental stage characterized by identity exploration, peer influence, and experimentation with substances, all of which heighten ambivalence when negative consequences arise. In the Addictions Case Study: Narrative on Marci, this tension is evident through competing motivations that MI's process of evoking can help bring to the surface and resolve.
Required Discussion Prompts:
- Give an example of Marci's "change talk."
Marci demonstrates change talk when she expresses fear that her arrest could define her future and jeopardize her academic and career goals. This reflects desire and reason change talk, which indicate an emerging recognition that her current behavior is inconsistent with the life she wants (Miller & Rollnick, 2023). Hart and Ksir (2022) explain that when individuals begin to connect substance use with threats to identity and long-term aspirations, motivation for change becomes more internally driven.
- Give an example of Marci's "sustain talk."
Marci's sustain talk is evident when she minimizes her DWI by calling it "just bad luck" and normalizes her drinking by stating that "everyone does it in college." These statements function to justify continued use and protect her from the discomfort associated with acknowledging the seriousness of her behavior (Miller & Rollnick, 2023). Hart and Ksir (2022) note that cultural norms around college drinking often reinforce this type of cognitive rationalization.
- Where is her ambivalence coming from? Why do you think it is there?
Marci's ambivalence stems from the conflict between the short-term social and emotional benefits of substance use and the growing awareness of its legal, academic, and relational consequences. According to Miller and Rollnick (2023), ambivalence develops when individuals value both change and the status quo simultaneously. Hart and Ksir (2022) emphasize that emerging adults often struggle with this tension as they balance peer acceptance with future goals, making ambivalence a natural part of the change process.
- Write one sentence for each letter of OARS that you could use with her.
- (Open-ended): "What worries you most about where things could go if another incident happened?"
- A (Affirmation): "It took courage to be honest about this, and it shows you care about your future."
- R (Reflection): "Part of you feels this was just a mistake, and another part is afraid of what could happen if nothing changes."
- S (Summary): "You enjoy the social side of drinking, but you are also scared of losing your independence and disappointing your family."
- How could you use MI's process of "evoking" to help her resolve any ambivalence and encourage her in a direction of change?
Evoking would help Marci resolve ambivalence by drawing out her own values, goals, and reasons for change rather than imposing external pressure. Through open-ended questions and reflective listening, the counselor can strengthen discrepancy between her current behavior and desired future, thereby increasing intrinsic motivation (Miller & Rollnick, 2023). Hart and Ksir (2022) suggest that this identity-based reflection is particularly powerful for young adults facing legal consequences.
- Try to find two Scriptural references that could apply to the process of evoking, and how you would seek to use them in working with Marci.
- Luke 10:36-37 (NIV): Jesus asks a reflective question rather than giving a directive, modeling evocation through inquiry. This parallels MI's use of open-ended questions to promote self-discovery.
- Proverbs 20:5 (NIV): "The purposes of a person's heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out." This verse reflects the MI principle that motivation already exists within the client and can be drawn out through empathic dialogue.
References:
Hart, C. L., &Ksir, C. (2022). Drugs, society, and human behavior (18th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2023). Motivational interviewing: Helping people change (4th ed.). Guilford Press.
The Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Zondervan