National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level 2 (NCAC II) Practice Exam Exam

Which therapy approach uses clients' internal motivation as a driving force for change?

1. Gestalt Therapy

2. Motivational Enhancement Therapy

3. Brief Therapy

4. Person-Centered Therapy

The correct answer is: Motivational Enhancement Therapy

Motivational Enhancement Therapy focuses specifically on understanding and enhancing the intrinsic motivation of clients to foster change. This approach aligns with the principles of motivational interviewing, which seeks to evoke clients' own motivations for change rather than imposing an external agenda. By emphasizing personal goals and values, this therapy encourages clients to explore and articulate their desires for a healthier life, making their motivation a central element in the therapeutic process. In contrast, Gestalt Therapy primarily focuses on awareness and self-acceptance in the present moment, while Brief Therapy may concentrate on solution-finding without necessarily emphasizing internal motivation as a driving force. Person-Centered Therapy also values the client's perspective and autonomy but tends to focus more on the therapeutic relationship and the environment that fosters self-directed change, rather than systematically enhancing the client's motivation.