Treatment for Problem Motivation

Motivational problems are typically addressed during treatment where people are trying to make significant behavioral changes. Providers can help enhance willingness to change through motivational interviewing (MI).¹ MI is a brief psychosocial intervention that is designed to highlight discrepancies between a person's current values and goals and how he or she is actually living. ² More

MI is a successful intervention that was initially developed to improve the motivation needed to reduce problematic drinking, however it has been successfully applied to other behavioral health problems. ² For example treatment for a Substance Use Disorder may include several motivational interviewing sessions, where problems are typically identified and addressed in treatment. Motivational interviewing is not a covered TRICARE benefit when motivational issues are the primary focus of treatment.

Getting Motivated to Change Behavior

¹ Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (1991). Motivational interviewing: Preparing people for change. New York:Guilford Press.

² Levensky, E. R. (2003).Motivational interviewing.In W. O'Donohue, J. E. Fisher, & S. C. Hayes (Eds.).Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Applying Empirically Supported Techniques in Your Practice, pp. 252-260. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley & Sons, Inc.

TRICARE policy for reimbursement requires that services must be medically necessary for a diagnosed psychological disorder. The disorder must be one referenced in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) and must be of a severity not only to cause the patient distress but also to interfere with the patient's usual activities.