Using Motivational Interviewing to Treat Anxiety

This course - a companion to <i>Motivational Interviewing: The Basics</i> - examines how motivational interviewing can be used to support clients suffering from anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders remain one of the most prevalent mental health challenges worldwide, significantly impacting individuals’ quality of life, relationships, and overall functioning. According to recent data, approximately 15% of Australians experience an anxiety disorder in any given year, while in the United States, the figure is around 19%, affecting over 40 million adults annually (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2023; National Institute of Mental Health, 2023). Despite the availability of evidence-based treatments, many individuals report dissatisfaction with their progress, highlighting a critical need for approaches that address ambivalence, enhance engagement, and foster sustained change. This course explores the application of motivational interviewing (MI), a collaborative and client-centered therapeutic approach, in treating anxiety disorders. Building on the foundational principles covered in <i>Motivational Interviewing: The Basics</i>, this course dives into the nuances of utilising MI to navigate the unique challenges associated with anxiety, such as discord (resistance to change) and heightened self-protective behaviours. Unless you are very familiar with the principles and specific techniques of motivational interviewing, you should do the Basics course before embarking on this one. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to: (1) explain the spirit of motivational interviewing and the rationale for using it to treat anxiety; (2) define anxiety and list the chief forms of anxiety which MI can treat; (3) discuss the chief aspects of MI – engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning – which comprise a successful treatment plan; (4) and detail MI-consistent ways of working with anxiety within each aspect.