[Ben Bubalex]

I’ve been watching my buddy Jake spiral with his drinking for years now. Last weekend, he hit rock bottom at a party – blacked out, woke up in the hospital after a nasty fall, and finally admitted he needs to quit. But he’s so back-and-forth about it, full of excuses one minute and promises the next. I remember reading about motivational interviewing as a way to gently guide someone through that inner conflict without pushing too hard. It sounds perfect for helping him build his own motivation to change. Could you recommend some solid resources on motivational interviewing for addiction? Like books, online courses, or apps that explain how to use it effectively, maybe even for friends supporting addicts? I’ve tried nagging him before, and it just backfired, so I want to approach this smarter.

[Klod]

Watching someone you care about wobble between “I’m done” and “maybe not” is exhausting. Motivational interviewing is built for that exact ambivalence — it focuses on curiosity over confrontation, helping the person hear their own reasons for change instead of defending against yours. My old coworker used it with her brother by asking what scared him most about continuing to drink; that question stuck with him more than any lecture. For a clear intro without heavy jargon, I found this useful: motivational interviewing for addiction . It’s a good starting point before diving into bigger books.

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