Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) is a client-centered, evidence-based counseling approach specifically designed to support individuals in resolving ambivalence about engaging in behavior change, particularly regarding substance use and addiction. MET is grounded in the principles of motivational interviewing (MI), developed by William Miller and Stephen Rollnick, and incorporates aspects of stages of change theory (also known as the Transtheoretical Model, developed by Prochaska and DiClemente). Rather than instructing or confronting, MET seeks to evoke the individual’s intrinsic motivation and harness their own values, goals, and reasoning to support long-term transformation.

MET views motivation not as a static trait, but as a dynamic state of readiness that can be influenced, developed, and strengthened through empathic, reflective dialogue. This method avoids coercion, judgment, or argumentation. Instead, it prioritizes autonomy, collaboration, and compassion, creating a non-confrontational therapeutic atmosphere where the client can explore the discrepancy between their current behaviors and their broader values or life goals.

This discrepancy becomes the fuel for motivation—when a person begins to experience internal conflict between their actions and who they believe themselves to be or who they aspire to be, the stage is set for change. MET offers a structured but flexible framework for this process to unfold with dignity and agency.