Motivational interviewing or “MI” is a counselling style that is client centred. It involves a collaborative conversation that is designed to strengthen a client’s commitment and motivation to change. The process helps a client by exploring and discovering the reasons for change, resolving ambivalence, and overcoming resistance while increasing motivation and confidence towards achieving specific goals.
The following are particular characteristics of a motivational interviewing style:
MI provides a variety of benefits because it addresses the natural uncertainty that each of us feels when it comes to making behavioural changes.
MI can help clients to:
MI has proven to be particularly effective for substance abuse disorders. Often those with addictive tendencies have a difficult time correlating in-the-moment decision making, like having a drink, with long-term consequences like losing their job or severe long-term health outcomes related to substance use. MI helps lead a client to see these conflicting goals and actions and create a self-directed plan to make a change.
Other issues that MI has shown to be particularly helpful with include:
You can arrange a free private and confidential 15 telephone consultation via our online calendar today. The consultation will help you decide if this is the right path for you.