What is motivational interviewing? 

“Motivational interviewing is a way of being with a client, not just a set of techniques for doing counseling”. Miller and Rollnick, 1991

This style of communication is both goal-oriented and collaborative. You can use motivational interviewing to support your patients in a holistic way and get a better understanding of what changes your patients are most interested in making. 

Motivational interviewing is most helpful with patients who are experiencing:

• High amounts of ambivalence (mixed feelings about change)
• Low confidence levels (doubting their ability to make a change)
• Low levels of desire (unclear if they want to change)
• Low amounts of importance (unclear on the benefits/disadvantages of making a change)

Sometimes called the “spirit” of motivational interviewing, you’ll help your patients develop commitment to their goals by using acceptance and compassion. This foundation of motivational interviewing is a way of engaging with your patient as an equal partner, without giving unsolicited advice or education. 

Sharing information is considered a “two-way street” where both people are learning what the other knows. These 4 ideas are used throughout motivational interviewing to ensure open dialogue and exchange of information, where your patient is considered the expert and you are considered a support system.

• PARTNERSHIP: People are the experts of their own lives. We are here only as a guide in creating change, rather than dictating it.
• EVOCATION: People are allowed space to discover their own values, priorities and goals. We are here to reinforce those values and support change.
• ACCEPTANCE: People are allowed to want or not want to make a change. They are adults and permitted to make exactly the decision they want to make. We are here to highlight their strengths and provide an empathetic perspective.
• COMPASSION: People’s wellbeing and welfare are supported selflessly. We are here to reflect their values, not to determine them.