Motivation enhancement therapy can increase utilization of cognitive-behavioral therapy: The case of social anxiety disorder

Despite the documented efficacy of cognitivebehavioral therapy CBT for many psychological disorders, the vast majority of suffering people do not receive treatment. Treatment underutilization may prove at least partially due to ambivalence about seeking treatment. Ambivalence could result if, for example, people with social anxiety disorder SAD want to decrease their anxiety symptoms but are worried they will be judged negatively should they seek treatment. Motivation enhancement therapy MET can be a useful tool to help nontreatment seekers explore and resolve ambivalence regarding seeking treatment. A case study illustrates the application of MET to encourage the utilization of CBT for a nontreatment seeker with SAD. This case study includes outcome data regarding the clients experience with postMET CBT for her social anxiety. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 65: 1–12, 2009.