Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) & Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) & Motivational Interviewing (MI)
What is MET Therapy?
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) are evidence-based, client-centred therapeutic approaches designed to strengthen internal motivation for change. Rather than confronting or directing behaviour, these therapies help individuals resolve ambivalence, clarify personal goals, and reconnect with their own reasons for change in a respectful, non-judgmental way.
What does MET treat?
MET and MI are particularly effective for addiction, substance use disorders, behavioural addictions, ambivalence around treatment engagement, relapse prevention, and lifestyle or behavioural change. They are also widely used in cases where individuals feel stuck, resistant, overwhelmed, or uncertain about change despite recognising its necessity.
MET Therapy and your environment
Within a private residential or discreet one-to-one care setting, MET and MI are delivered in a highly personalised and carefully paced manner. Therapy is adapted to the individual’s emotional readiness, nervous-system state, and personal values, allowing motivation to emerge organically rather than through pressure or external expectation. This approach is especially effective for high-functioning individuals who value autonomy, dignity, and collaborative care.
Motivational Interviewing focuses on creating a safe, empathetic therapeutic relationship in which clients can explore conflicting feelings about change. Through reflective listening, strategic questioning, and gentle guidance, individuals gain clarity about how current behaviours align—or conflict—with their deeper values and long-term goals.
Motivational Enhancement Therapy builds on these principles in a more structured format, helping clients strengthen commitment, set realistic goals, and transition from contemplation into action. MET is often used early in treatment to increase engagement or alongside other therapies to support sustained progress.
MET therapy and recovery?
In a residential setting, MET and MI are reinforced by reduced external pressure, consistent therapeutic containment, and a predictable daily rhythm. This allows motivation to stabilise internally rather than being driven by crisis, fear, or compliance. Clients are supported in making changes that feel self-directed, meaningful, and sustainable.
When integrated within a holistic treatment model, MET and MI are complemented by trauma-informed therapy, nervous-system regulation, and behavioural support. This ensures that motivation is not undermined by unresolved emotional distress or physiological dysregulation.
Who is MET therapy for?
Motivational Enhancement Therapy and Motivational Interviewing are particularly well suited to individuals navigating change at a critical crossroads—whether in recovery, mental health treatment, or life transition. Delivered within a private, supportive environment, these approaches restore agency, strengthen commitment, and lay a stable foundation for long-term wellbeing.