Motivational interviewing is a therapy technique I use that aims to help clients find the motivation within themselves to make positive changes in their lives. The approach was developed by psychologists William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick in the 1980s and has since gained widespread recognition for its effectiveness. Motivational interviewing fits my integrative therapy practice well, particularly because it shares much in common with my humanistic therapy methods.
I commonly use motivational interviewing in my specialties, including sports psychology and executive coaching, and I also integrate it into individual therapy and couples therapy approaches. Of course, you can contact me anytime to talk about how motivational interviewing might help you, but first, I wanted to provide this overview.
Key principles of Motivational Interviewing
There are five main tenets of motivational interviewing that I and most practitioners follow. If you have read my blog or other parts of this website, you will see how closely MI tracks the humanistic approach underlying my integrated practice.
1. Express Motivational Empathy
I work hard to understand the client’s perspective, showing empathy and acceptance. This creates a supportive environment where you feel understood, not judged, and respected. I want to understand your world from your perspective, and I respect how you see it nonjudgmentally. When I work with couples, this includes understanding the uniqueness of your relationship.
2. Develop Discrepancy In Motivational Interviewing
I help clients explore the discrepancies between their current behavior and goals or values. By highlighting this disconnect, each client is motivated to make changes to align their behavior with their aspirations. Again, it is not societal expectations we align with but your own expectations of yourself. This process is not done in a negative or judgemental manner – it is not about the “problems” that are causing you not to live the life you envision, but rather the hurdles you can get over to get there.
3. Motivational Interviewing Avoids Conflict
While some therapy methods confront defensiveness, in motivational interviewing, I avoid arguments and resistance by adopting a collaborative and non-confrontational approach. This involves listening actively, respecting the client’s autonomy, and avoiding the urge to persuade or coerce. You may find that you are in conflict with yourself, and this is okay with an MI approach, but you will not feel that you are in conflict with me. We’ll always be working together.
4. Rolling with Resistance
Rather than opposing resistance directly, I acknowledge it and gently encourage you to explore it further. By avoiding power struggles and fostering a sense of autonomy, I hope to move the client towards change at their own pace. This is also different than some other approaches that confront resistance or see it as a negative. I find that resistance is merely data, telling us that there is something there that you are pushing against, and that thing may be worth uncovering to see what it is causing.
5. Motivational Interviewing Supports Self-Efficacy
I help client builds confidence in their ability to change by highlighting their past successes, strengths, and resources. This empowers the client to take responsibility for their actions and believes in their capacity to overcome obstacles. We may peer into the past not just to find what has gone wrong, but also times when you felt you were living your life to its fullest and you were feeling most content.
Motivational Interviewing Techniques
Motivational interviewing techniques I use include the following:
- Open-ended questions: Instead of asking yes/no questions, I often ask open-ended questions, encouraging you to elaborate on your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This allows for a deeper exploration of your motivations and goals.
- Reflective listening: I listen actively and reflect back on what you say, using empathy and understanding. Reflective listening helps you feel heard and validated, and it encourages you to explore your motivations and concerns.
- Affirmations: Affirmations are statements that recognize your strengths, efforts, and past successes. By affirming these positive qualities and achievements, I hope to boost your self-esteem and confidence in your ability to change.
- Summarizing: Periodically summarizing what you’ve said in that session and previously can help you clarify your thoughts and feelings and reinforce key points. Summarizing also demonstrates that I am actively listening and understand your perspective.
- Eliciting change talk: Change talk refers to your statements that indicate a willingness, ability, reasons, and need for change.
These techniques are used flexibly and in combination, tailored to your unique needs and circumstances. The overarching goal is to facilitate collaborative and non-confrontational conversations so you can explore your motivations for change and develop your own solutions. These techniques are designed to elicit your reasons for change rather than imposing anyone else’s agenda.
Summary and My Work
I use motivational interviewing in conjunction with other therapeutic approaches and found it quite effective in helping clients address a wide range of issues, from depression to weight management to anxieties. I use these techniques in my specialty areas, particularly sports psychology and executive coaching.
What Do I Use Motivational Interviewing For
Motivational interviewing is used for various purposes in my practice, including:
- Behavior Change: Motivational interviewing is often utilized to facilitate behavior change in areas such as substance abuse, unhealthy eating habits, physical inactivity, smoking cessation, and more. It helps clients explore their motivations for change and resolve any conflicting feelings they may have about it. Motivational interviewing brings out the healthy side of you, the part of you that truly wants to change.
- Substance Abuse Treatment:** Motivational interviewing is particularly effective in the treatment of addiction. It helps individuals examine their reasons for substance use, consider the impact of their behavior on their lives, and increase their motivation to engage in treatment and recovery. I have used motivational interviewing with a wide variety of people who want to change their relationships with substances.
- Health and Wellness: Motivational interviewing can encourage clients to adopt healthier lifestyle behaviors, such as exercising regularly, improving diet, managing chronic conditions, and adhering to medical treatment plans. It is a perfect adjunct to other therapies and programs designed to work on the physical aspects of these issues.
- Mental Health: I commonly use motivational interviewing techniques in traditional mental health treatment to enhance motivation for therapy and engagement in therapeutic activities.
MI for Those Who Are Hesitant
Many individuals struggling with mental health issues may feel ambivalent or resistant to seeking treatment. MI helps us collaborate about your concerns, goals, and values, thereby increasing motivation. If you are reading this post or this website with a skeptical eye, have had a lack of success in therapy before, or are looking to refer someone who is hesitant, motivational interviewing may be just the thing to increase motivation and even, eventually, excitement about the prospects of treatment.
Overall, motivational interviewing is a client-centered, collaborative approach that respects an individual’s autonomy and helps them find their own intrinsic motivation for change rather than imposing external pressure or directives. It’s a versatile method that can be adapted to various contexts and to promote positive behavior change. That is why it has become a central part of my practice.
I would be happy to speak to you about an integrated therapy approach that includes motivational interviewing, which may be a good fit for you. Contact me anytime.
