Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, goal-oriented, evidence-based form of psychotherapy technique used that focuses on behavioural change. MI aims to strengthen personal motivation for and commitment to a specific goal. It taps on individuals’ own reasons for change while focusing on acceptance and compassion for clients. MI can be applied across a broad range of settings from health to education, and across populations regardless of age, ethnicity or sexuality. It is often used to treat addictions and management of physical health conditions like diabetes, heart disease and asthma.

MI is a style of psychotherapy that focuses on guiding clients rather than listening to clients or directing clients. MI focuses on empowering clients by assisting them in identifying intrinsic meaning, importance and ability to change. Clients are treated as an equal partner in this process and have their autonomies respected. 

MI focuses on the present by getting clients to examine their current situation and possible options. It is particularly effective when clients are ambivalent about change, have low confidence levels on abilities to change, have low desire or are uncertain if they want to make a change, and when clients view the importance of change to be low.

This form of psychotherapy uses core skills or OARS: Open questions, Affirmation, Reflections, Summarising.

• Open questions – draws on and explores clients’ personal experiences, perspectives, and ideas 
• Affirmations – affirms clients’ strengths, efforts and past successful instances of change to build on clients’ confidence 
• Reflections – repeating and rephrasing clients’ words after active listening to reflect empathy for clients
• Summarising – reinforces key points to ensure shared understanding between client and therapist

MI is a method of communication rather than an intervention, and is sometimes used in combination with other treatment methods. The strengths of MI lies in that it works well with individuals who begin therapy unmotivated or unprepared for change. MI helps clients be accountable and prepares clients to be more receptive to therapy. MI also builds client’s confidence and elicits positive emotions by encouraging clients to focus on a better outcome after achieving behavioural changes they set out for.