What is Motivational Interviewing?
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, goal-oriented style of counselling that pays particular attention to the language of change. It is intended to strengthen personal motivation for, and commitment to, a target behaviour change, by eliciting and exploring an individual’s own reasons for change within an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion.
Motivational Interviewing incorporates strategies from client-centred counselling, systems theory, cognitive therapy and the social psychology of persuasion. Its theoretical basis lies in the constructs of ambivalence (regarding change) and self-regulation (Miller & Rollnick, 1991). Within the underlying theoretical basis of Motivational Interviewing, motivation is emphasised as a context or state of readiness rather than a personality trait. When viewed in this way, motivation can be seen as a state which may fluctuate from time to time, and therefore, which may be influenced.
What is the purpose of Motivational Interviewing?
Motivational Interviewing is used to elicit patient motivation to change a specific behaviour. MI is also used to increase engagement in treatment and adherence to treatment recommendations, and reduce rates of dropout from treatment. MI is usually brief, provided in one to two sessions. It can be delivered as a free-standing intervention, or as a motivational prelude to some other treatment.
Who are Miller and Rollnick?
Professors William Miller and Stephen Rollnick are clinical psychologists and the founders of Motivational Interviewing
What settings are appropriate for using Motivational Interviewing?
Motivational Interviewing is an evidence-based approach with over 1000 clinical trials demonstrating its efficacy across a broad range of clinical and cultural contexts. Originally developed by William Miller and Steve Rollnick in 1991 for helping people with addiction problems, MI is now being applied more widely in health care, criminal justice, vocational, rehabilitation and mental health settings.
How can motivational interviewing help influence positive outcomes?
Motivational interviewing elicits a person’s own motivation and commitment to change. This approach has been shown to be particularly helpful with those clients previously thought to be unwilling or unable to change and helps people overcome their resistance to, or ambivalence about participating in treatment.