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Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a person-centered and collaborative approach that strengthens an individual’s motivation and commitment to change through exploring and resolving ambivalence (Miller & Rollnick, 2012). Over the past 30 years, research and practice of MI have been widely observed in the areas of healthcare, mental health, and corrections to address a variety of behavioural outcomes, with the most evidence on addictive behaviours.

Motivational interviewing involves 4 processes that are both sequential and recursive:

1. Engaging - Establishing a therapeutic working alliance with client by demonstrating active listening;

2. Focusing - Identifying and setting goals for change

3. Evoking - Eliciting a client’s motivations for change

4. Planning - Eliciting a client’s commitment to change and formulating a specific plan of action

Understand that MI is not…

• Identical to a non-directive client-centered counselling approach

• A “technique” but rather a complex style of being with people

• A solution to all clinical problems but rather can be blended well with other evidence-based clinical skills and approaches

• A way of manipulating clients but rather a collaborative partnership with them

Psychologists are expected to:

• Practice MI’s unique principles, i.e., partnership, acceptance, compassion and evocation in client engagement

• Demonstrate the 4 processes of MI: Engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning

• Demonstrate the 5 key communication skills of MI: Asking open questions, affirming, reflecting, summarising, and providing information and advice with permission

Key textbooks

1. Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2012). Motivational interviewing: Helping people change (Third Edition). New York: Guilford Press. See more here.

   This is a comprehensive resource for starting practitioners keen to learn about the fundamentals of Motivational Interviewing (MI). It provides a good overview of the four processes of MI – engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning – and provides a clinical example to help illustrate MI in action.

2. Arkowitz, H., Westra, H. A., Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2008). Motivational interviewing in the treatment of psychological problems (Second Edition). New York: Guilford Press. See more here.

   This is a useful resource for starting practitioners to learn about how to combine motivational interviewing (MI) with other treatments for a wide range of psychological problems, including depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and others. It guides practitioners in tailoring MI to their specific target population, and in using it both as a precursor to therapy or as a therapeutic style throughout the course of therapy.

MINT

The Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT), is an international organisation committed to promoting high-quality MI practice and training. The website provides information on training and events, latest research, and resources on MI.

An example of MI

This is a demonstration of using Motivational Interviewing by Alan Lyme.