You are working with Tom, age 35, who is currently unemployed and has been staying in a homeless shelter since his eviction four months ago. You are a case manager in the homeless shelter, and you are trying to help Tom get back on his feet. You recently referred him to an employment services agency that was going to work with him on reviewing his resume, applying for jobs, and preparing for interviews. When you follow up with Tom, he tells you that he cancelled his initial appointment and does not think he wants to reschedule. Tom was evicted after he was laid off due to downsizing at his organization. At the same time, Tom's mother became ill and passed away. Tom stopped looking for a new position as he was living with and taking care of his mother and became depressed after her passing, which prevented him from having the motivation or ability to seek a new job. As a result, Tom's bills went unpaid, and he eventually fell so far behind that he could not figure out how to catch up. Using techniques of Motivational Interviewing, how do you address Tom's insecurity and ambivalence about applying to jobs?

Tom is in a difficult position. Unfortunately, his own inaction and depression have caused the continuation of his problems and the urgency of his situation. Motivational Interviewing is an excellent option to try and address his difficulties and help him resolve the problems he's facing to get him on his feet.
Motivational Interviewing essentially involves directing the subject through an open-ended interview during the counseling process to encourage and motivate them and then reach conclusions to help them apply that motivation to their life and current situation. The process involves 4 steps, as follows:
1) Ask open questions
2) Offer affirmations
3) Reflect on the results
4) Create a summary
For Tom, I would suggest beginning by asking open questions about first his job loss and the emotions that brought up and then his mother's death. These issues have clearly created some unresolved feelings that deal with his depression, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy. In order to improve his situation, it is important to understand the incompetency he feels after having lost his previous job, as well as to help him get through the grieving process of his mother.
Once you have discussed the open questions, you as the case manager can offer affirmations. It is important to give validation and true affirmation, reinforcing Tom's own ability and opportunity. Confirm for him that it is not his fault that he lost his job, nor is it his fault that his mother fell ill and passed away. You can even affirm the positive aspects of those situations—Tom's attention and care that he showed for his mother, as well as the diligence and persistence he displayed when first interviewing for the new job.
These affirmations should lead to some positive outcomes, and at this point, you can help Tom reflect. By reflecting, you allow Tom to engage with the positive affirmations and accept them. Typically, reflection simply is the act of the subject repeating and dwelling on the affirmations themselves. By doing this, they spend time thinking positively about their own situation and their own capabilities, which will help to encourage and motivate them.
Finally, you can draw conclusions. The conclusion portion is more action-oriented, because you take the affirmations you have used and draw up a plan based on what you have discussed. Going forward, Tom will use these affirmations to encourage himself during the next interview process and to encourage his diligence and persistence when pursuing a new job.