Using motivational theory with the long-term psychiatric client

This article discusses how psychiatric nurses or nursing students can use motivational theory to work with the long-term client. It is primarily nurses who work most continually with all phases of the long-term client's responses to his or her illness and deal most directly with his or her frustration and despair. This article describes the practical application of motivational theory with a group of clients who demonstrate typical variability in their illness responses. A combination of paper-and-pencil exercises, the Goal Attainment Scaling form (Garwick & Brintelli, 1977) and Checklist for In-Session Achievement, can be used with role play to assist clients to achieve their goals. Nurses and clients are both more likely to experience success when reasonable goals are set, and the focus for treatment is on ability rather than disability.