Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Motivational Enhancement / Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Enhancement is an approach to assisting individuals with changing in areas of difficult behavior, utilizing the principles and strategies of the Motivational Interviewing approach, a client-centered, directive method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence as the individual progresses toward recovery.
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) is an adaptation of motivational interviewing (MI) that includes one or more client feedback sessions in which normative feedback is presented and discussed in an explicitly nonconfrontational manner. Motivational interviewing is a directive, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve their ambivalence and achieve lasting changes for a range of problematic behaviors. This intervention has been extensively tested in treatment evaluations of alcohol and other drug use/misuse. MET uses an empathic but directive approach in which the therapist provides feedback that is intended to strengthen and consolidate the client's commitment to change and promote a sense of self-efficacy. MET aims to elicit intrinsic motivation to change substance abuse by resolving client ambivalence, evoking self-motivational statements and commitment to change, and "rolling with resistance" (responding in a neutral way to the client's resistance to change rather than contradicting or correcting the client).
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a goal-directed, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavioral change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. The operational assumption in MI is that ambivalent attitudes or lack of resolve is the primary obstacle to behavioral change, so that the examination and resolution of ambivalence becomes its key goal. MI has been applied to a wide range of problem behaviors related to alcohol and substance abuse as well as health promotion, medical treatment adherence, and mental health issues. Although many variations in technique exist, the MI counseling style generally includes the following elements:
- Establishing rapport with the client and listening reflectively.
- Asking open-ended questions to explore the client's own motivations for change.
- Affirming the client's change-related statements and efforts.
- Eliciting recognition of the gap between current behavior and desired life goals.
- Asking permission before providing information or advice.
- Responding to resistance without direct confrontation. (Resistance is used as a feedback signal to the therapist to adjust the approach.)
- Encouraging the client's self-efficacy for change.
- Developing an action plan to which the client is willing to commit.
Adaptations of the MI counseling approach have included brief interventions for college-age youth visiting hospital emergency rooms after an alcohol-related event; brief interventions for adult patients with histories of heavy drinking presenting to primary medical care settings for routine care; and brief interventions for cocaine and heroin users presenting to urban walk-in medical clinics. Community-based substance abuse treatment clinics also have incorporated the MI counseling style into their initial intake/orientation session to improve program retention.

26 Courses
MI-Lesson One: Introduction to Motivational Interviewing
Course Overview
In this first part of our 20-part training on the practice of Motivational Interviewing, we begin by introducing the practice of Motivational…
MI-Lesson Two: The Spirit of Motivational Interviewing
Course Overview
This course will examine the basic Motivational Interview concepts of acceptance, partnership, compassion, and evocation.
MI-Lesson Three: The Four Processes and Three Styles of Motivational Interviewing
Course Overview
This course will go more in depth regarding the four processes that make up Motivational Interviewing. It also introduces you to what an example of…
MI-Lesson Four: The Four Principles of Motivational Interviewing
Course Overview
This course helps build a better grasp of the fundamental driving factors behind Motivational Interviewing. You will learn the four principles that…
MI-Lesson Five: Client-Centered Counseling Skills (Part 1)
Course Overview
This course explores the interviewing techniques of open questions and active listening skills that are so important when working with your clients.
MI-Lesson Six: Client-Centered Counseling Skills (Part 2)
Course Overview
This course will go into depth of the processes of effective listening and various methods that can be used to ensure meaningful responses and a good…
2 Resources
Brief Motivational Interventions for Problem Gambling with Dr. Matthew Martens
This 45-minute lecture from 2011 goes into details about gambling and etc.
Using Basic Components of Motivational Interviewing (MI) for Effective Communication
Please refer to resource content for more information.