Motivation Matters: Building motivation & wellbeing in young people using tools from Motivational Interviewing

Motivation comes from self-esteem, and young people who have low self-esteem are less likely to be able to make decisions to change patterns of behaviour, which in turn can affect not only their mental wellbeing but also their achievement in both educational and social contexts.

This practical and user-friendly introduction to Motivational Interviewing (MI) will enable school-based staff to feel confident in using tools from MI to engage young people, both as a means of preventing escalation of difficulties and also to support them in the process of changing behaviour patterns. The idea of the book is not to target only those regarded as exhibiting behavioural problems, low self-esteem, anxiety, and so on, but to target all young people to, prevent the escalation of any difficulties and provide them with a range of therapeutic tools and problem-solving strategies and techniques to foster wellbeing and mental health.

Key strategies and techniques will provide young people with a range of tools and problem-solving techniques to identify problems they face, develop long- and short-term goals and the steps required to achieve these.

The ten practical sessions include clear user guidance as well as Activities, Worksheets, Handouts and Resources for use with young people either in groups or on a one-to-one basis, by special needs teachers, mental health leads, learning mentors, teachers, counsellors, social care professionals and parents/carers:

1. Introduction to Motivation
2. Positive Possibilities
3. Knowing Who We Are
4. Listening Skills
5. Motivation to Change
6. The Stages of Change
7. Working with the Changes
8. Problem-Solving
9. My Change Process
10. Goals & Evaluation

Table of Contents

Introduction

• What if Motivation?
• Motivating Learning in the Early Years
• Characteristics of Motivation in Young Children
• Developing Motivation
• Enhancing Motivation
• What Causes a Lack of Motivation?
• What is Self-Motivation?
• Education & Motivation
• Increasing Intrinsic Motivation within a Motivating Environment
• Motivational Research
• The Motivated School
• The Implications for Teachers & Schools
• The Focus on Mental Health & Wellbeing
• The Need for Early Intervention

Using Motivational Interviewing with Young People

• Understanding Change
• Using Motivational Interviewing Techniques to Engender Changes in Behaviour
• How Change Works as a Process
• Stages of Change: Example
• Exploring Ambivalence
• Framework for Developing a Personal Goal

Before You Start

• The Key Principles of Motivational Interviewing
• Resistance in Young People
• Some Useful Strategies for Active Listening
• Ten Useful Questions
• OARS
• Before You Start: Take the Quiz
• Clarify Your Understanding of the Stages of Change

Working with Individual Children & Young People

• Assessment of Student Motivation to Change
• 'Card Sort' Activities & Assessment
• Working through the Stages of Change with Individual Students

The Programme

1. Introduction to Motivation
2. Positive Possibilities
3. Knowing Who We Are
4. Listening Skills
5. Motivation to Change
6. The Stages of Change
7. Working with the Changes
8. Problem-Solving
9. My Change Process
10. Goals & Evaluation

Appendices

1. Quiz: Beliefs about Motivation
2. A's in Your School
3. Teacher Questionnaire
4. Promoting Self-Efficacy
5. Stages of Change Diagram
6. Information Sheet for Students
7. Letter to Parents & Carers
8. Information Sheet for Parents & Carers
9. Staff & Carer Training Activity

References