What does the Maintenance phase in Motivational Interviewing involve?

The Maintenance phase in Motivational Interviewing focuses on sustaining the changes achieved during earlier stages. This involves providing appropriate follow-up and ongoing support, whether individually or in groups. In this phase, it's crucial to reinforce the person's commitment to their changes and ensure they have the resources and encouragement needed to maintain their progress.

The intent is to help individuals navigate challenges and prevent relapse by ensuring they have a supportive network and strategies in place. This support can take various forms, such as counseling sessions, peer support groups, or community resources that empower individuals to continue their recovery journey.

In contrast, implementing new strategies is typically more aligned with earlier phases of change rather than maintenance. Reevaluating past failures can be part of the reflective process, but it falls outside the supportive focus of the Maintenance phase where the primary goal is continuity and reinforcement of positive behaviors. Abandoning previous plans is counterproductive in Maintenance, as the objective is to build on what has already been established rather than discarding foundational efforts.