Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

• Developed by Miller and Rollnick to facilitate health behaviour change.
• Focuses on creating a conversation around change without convincing or instructing the person.
• Aims to elicit self-motivational statements and behavioral change from the client.

Core Principles

• Based on Carl Rogers' humanistic theories.
• Centrality of the therapeutic relationship.
• Directive approach to elicit self-motivation.
• Highlighting discrepancies between current behavior, future health goals, and values.
• Activates the innate capability for beneficial change.

Connection to Other Theories

• Links to self-determination theory and the transtheoretical model of change.

Ambivalence

• All behavior is motivated.
• Coexistence of motivations to change and to stay the same.
• Understanding and working with ambivalence is key.
• Ambivalence is normal regarding health behavior change.
• Resolution through intrinsic motivations and values.
• Collaborative partnership: expertise from both client and practitioner.
• Empathic, supportive, yet directive style.
• Direct arguments and confrontation may increase defensiveness and reduce change likelihood.

Skills

• Importance of reflections and summaries.
• Client-centered interpersonal skills are crucial.
• OARS: Basic interaction techniques and core MI skills:
  • Open-ended questions.
  • Affirmations.
  • Reflective listening.
  • Summaries.

Five Principles of MI

1. Express empathy through reflective listening.
2. Develop discrepancy between clients' goals/values and current behavior.
3. Avoid arguments and direct confrontation.
4. Adjust to client resistance rather than opposing it directly.
5. Support self-efficacy and optimism.

Four MI Processes

1. Engaging
2. Focusing
3. Evoking
4. Planning

Importance of Reflective Practice

• Developing and refining MI skills facilitates effectiveness as health practitioners.