AI + Motivational Interviewing

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁.

Ok, ok, clinicians understand this is definitely 𝘯𝘰𝘵 how you approach working with clients.

So instead, how can clinicians support clients who are heavily engaged with AI companions (bordering on problematic attachment)?

Previously, I shared how to apply the lens of Attachment Theory in these cases. Now, let's look through the lens of Motivational Interviewing (MI).

MI is a collaborative, client-centered approach that strengthens a person's motivation to change by 𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 rather than imposing external arguments.

When clients form intense attachments to AI companions, MI offers a non-confrontational framework that honors their autonomy while exploring the complexity of these interactions.

𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
Use MI's decisional balance technique to help clients examine pros and cons. Bringing the ambivalence to the forefront is paramount:

◾ "On one hand, you've mentioned your AI companion provides comfort when you're lonely. On the other hand, you've noticed you're declining more social invitations. Help me understand both sides."

𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸
Rather than challenging AI use directly, invite clients to voice their own observations:

◾ "What do you appreciate most about your AI companion?"
◾ "How does interacting with AI compare to your human connections?"
◾ "What concerns, if any, do you have about your AI use?"

𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
When clients become defensive, avoid the "righting reflex":

◾ Instead of: "But you're isolating yourself from real relationships."
◾ Try: "It sounds like this connection feels very real and important to you. Tell me more about what makes it meaningful."

*𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘴. 𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘴.