Essence: Conversations about change

Motivational interviewing is interviewing to help people to change.
It is :

• collaborative,
• goal-oriented
• communication with particular attention to
• the language of change.

 It is designed to strengthen personal motivation for, and commitment to, a specific goal by:

• eliciting and
• exploring the person’s own reasons for change
• within an atmosphere of acceptance
• and compassion.

Three definitions of Motivational interviewing

Lay person's definition

Motivational interviewing is a collaborative conversation style for strengthening a person's own motivation and commitment to change.

Practitioner's definition

Motivational interviewing is a person-centered counseling style for addressing the common problem of ambivalence about change.

Technical definition

Motivational interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented style of communication with particular attention to the language of change. It is designed to strengthen personal motivation for and commitment to a specific goal by eliciting and exploring the person's own reasons for change within an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion.

(p29 Miller & Rollnick)

 

 

 

 

 

Background

Motivational Interviewing is a framework that was originally developed in the alcohol and other drug field by William Miller and Stephen Rollnick.

The essence of Motivational Interviewing is that it is an interpersonal style designed to assist people to explore and resolve ambivalence, and to increase motivation for change.

Motivational Interviewing utilises the principles and practices of person-centred counselling to encourage the person to move through the stages of change and to make personal choices along the way.

In Motivational Interviewing resistance is viewed as evidence of conflict or ambivalence, and is met with reflection rather than a confrontational style.

 

 

 

Introduction to Motivational Interviewing (17 mins)

This video from Bill Matulich, covers the basic concepts of Motivational Interviewing.

After a brief definition, topics include: the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing, The four basic OARS skills, and the "processes" of Motivational Interviewing.