Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a counselling style designed to recognize and resolve client ambivalence in order to prepare clients to change unwanted behaviours. It is a technique that has Rogerian underpinnings – warmth and unconditional regard – and is non-confrontational in that it elicits change statements and goals from the client, rather than the therapist.

What is MI? 

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based treatment that addresses ambivalence to change. If you are feeling tired of how things are going in your life, and you would like to change certain elements of it, then MI can help you achieve your goals in a collaborative way. MI is designed to help you understand the reasons for your resistance to change, and help you gain the confidence to address the issues in a way you feel is conducive to you comfort zone.

The core principles of MI are:

• Express empathy
• Roll with resistance
• Develop discrepancy
• Support self-efficacy

What are MI’s Limitations?

MI is a very collaborative therapy which means there is very little challenge to the client. It uses a lot of simple reflection which some clients may find frustrating if they are struggling to understand how or why they feel or do as they do. If you do not like talking or would like to address issues head on then MI is not for you. Other therapies such as CBT or Solution Focused Brief Therapy may be more suited to your needs in counselling as they provide a more directive understanding of the cause and effect of the issues presented.