Motivational Interviewing: A Catalyst for Positive Change

Motivational interviewing is an evidence-based therapeutic approach used by licensed clinical social workers to help individuals resolve ambivalence and build intrinsic motivation for positive behavior change, effectively addressing mental health concerns including anxiety, depression, and substance use through client-centered collaboration.

Ever feel torn between wanting to change and staying stuck in old patterns? Motivational interviewing helps you move past that frustrating ambivalence by tapping into your own inner drive for transformation—discover how this gentle, client-centered approach can unlock the motivation you already have inside.

Motivational Interviewing & Mental Health: A Path to Positive Change

Content warning: Please be advised, the below article might mention substance use-related topics that could be triggering to the reader. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use, contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Support is available 24/7.

Many people have aspects of their lives they hope to change, such as a career path, strained relationship, managing anxiety, or developing healthier habits. Whatever the circumstance, it can take energy and motivation to make meaningful changes that positively impact mental health.

When attempting to create behavior change on your own, you may experience mixed feelings about how to proceed. Having a supportive network of friends, family, and professionals can be invaluable during this process. Licensed clinical social workers trained in motivational interviewing (MI) can help facilitate behavior change by helping you resolve ambivalence and focus on intrinsic motivators for change.

Meaningful change can occur whether your goals are ambitious, minor, or somewhere in between. If you’re in a season of personal development, motivational interviewing might inspire you to make healthier changes in the present and transform your future.

Understanding Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing was initially developed by clinical psychologist William R. Miller and later expanded on with Stephen Rollnick as an approach for those experiencing substance use disorders. The process itself is based on the humanistic values of Carl Rogers, where clients are treated with empathy and unconditional positive regard. Miller and Rollnick developed a comprehensive guide that serves as a foundation for helping clients change behavior using motivational interviewing principles. The theory and practice of MI in clinical social work have evolved over subsequent decades and is now used for addressing various conditions.

Licensed clinical social workers at ReachLink may use motivational interviewing as an evidence-based approach to help clients find the internal motivation to make beneficial changes. This could help clients cease smoking, abstain from substance use, improve stress management, maintain healthy eating practices, or address various mental health concerns.

In a motivational interviewing session, the therapist engages in candid discussion to assess whether you’re genuinely interested in change. Client autonomy is a key component of this approach. The motivation to change originates with you, not your therapist, making your ideas central to the process.

Through extensive discussion about your own reasons for change, you can move away from ambivalence and establish a clear, personal argument for change to start achieving your goals. When you engage in more “change talk,” it signals that you may be prepared to make meaningful changes.

Who Can Benefit from Motivational Interviewing?

Motivational interviewing can be effective for many mental health concerns and can be applied in a broad range of settings, including healthcare, education, and human services. While often used to address substance use disorders, motivational interviewing strategies might also support the following objectives:

• Healthy nutrition and physical activity levels
• Abstinence from smoking, gambling, or other behaviors
• Stress management
• Engagement in management programs for chronic health concerns
• Improving relationship dynamics
• Building confidence and self-efficacy
• Addressing anxiety and depression

The American Psychological Association (APA) notes that motivational interviewing benefits people with low intrinsic motivation to change. By discussing your goals, values, and strengths at length, this approach makes it easier to verbalize and visualize reasons for change that you might not discover on your own.

Principles of Motivational Interviewing

The success of the motivational interviewing counseling method may depend on three components of motivation, which can be summarized by the phrase “ready, willing, and able.” These three components are:

1. Willingness: How open you are to change
2. Ability: The confidence you have to change
3. Readiness: Whether the change is an immediate priority

Without addressing these three components, you may not feel motivated enough to begin working toward change. Assuming you are ready, willing, and have the ability to change, a licensed clinical social worker can use motivational interviewing to assist you in altering thought patterns and health behaviors. This therapeutic process is rooted in the following evidence-based guiding principles:

1. Listen with empathy: As a foundational skill, therapists trained in MI learn to take an active interest in your internal perspective and express empathy by showing genuine curiosity and using reflective listening.
2. Understand your motivations: If you aren’t motivated, change may not occur. Instead of imposing their views, the therapist honors your autonomy and strives to support your self-efficacy by reflecting on your strengths and past successes, restoring confidence in your capacity for change.
3. Resist the righting reflex: Therapists may feel inclined to prescribe the “right path,” but this can defeat the purpose of MI, as clients may resist change when therapists propose a strict plan of action. A well-trained MI therapist will roll with resistance and emphasize your decision to make changes independently.
4. Empower the client: Research shows that when clients are primary and active collaborators in their healthcare, treatment outcomes tend to improve. In MI, empowerment looks like collaboration that boosts your ability to change.

During sessions with a ReachLink clinical social worker, you might be prompted to explore your ideas about making change, discuss your personal history of change, and identify discrepancies between your current situation and where you’d like to be.

Common Motivational Interviewing Strategies

Licensed clinical social workers use several research-backed strategies to build your motivation and give you confidence in your abilities. These techniques promote change and support a healthy client-therapist relationship and productive conversation. Motivational interviewing strategies include:

Open-ended Questions

Your therapist may ask evocative questions that require more than a “yes” or “no” answer. In motivational interviewing, you often do most of the talking, allowing the therapist to learn more about your values, goals, and uncertainties about changing a specific behavior. The line of questioning may begin to develop a discrepancy between what you’re doing currently and the change you hope to make. This is the first step to helping you identify behaviors you’d like to change.

Affirmations

Sincere affirmations can build strong therapeutic relationships. Using compliments or statements of appreciation and understanding, therapists can direct focus toward your strengths, past successes, and current efforts to create change.

Reflective Listening and Phrasing to Express Empathy

In MI, a counselor may repeat your verbalized vital points, which can clarify and deepen their understanding of your thoughts and feelings. This practice can also amplify or reinforce your stated commitment to change.

A Collaborative “Change Plan”

Rather than a set of techniques to “use on” people, motivational interviewing offers common-sense strategies for therapists to use in collaboration with their clients. After establishing a strong therapeutic rapport, you and your therapist may create a “change plan” together. This planning process can be shaped by essential questions, which might include:

• Where do we go from here?
• What do you want to do at this point?
• After reviewing this plan, what’s the next step for you?

You are the change leader in this plan (and in all motivational interviewing strategies). Your therapist serves as a collaborative, trusting professional who recognizes your strengths, autonomy, and vision for the future.

Telehealth Motivational Interviewing with ReachLink

If you anticipate a change in your future but feel unsure where to start, consider reaching out to a licensed clinical social worker at ReachLink. Our telehealth platform makes therapy accessible without requiring you to commute or leave home.

At ReachLink, our licensed clinical social workers specialize in motivational interviewing for various concerns, including anxiety management, relationship improvement, and personal development. They can ask thought-provoking, open-ended questions, offer affirmations, and collaborate with you to create a change plan through your preferred session method. You can choose video sessions that fit your schedule and lifestyle.

Research shows that telehealth therapy can be as effective in treating a broad range of mental health conditions as in-person therapy. A 2017 comparison of in-person and online motivational interviewing found that telehealth therapy was equally effective, based on the outcomes of adults in a health management program.

Takeaway

Motivational interviewing is a practical, non-confrontational counseling style that may appeal to diverse people and personalities. If you’re experiencing difficulty with behavior change and believe you could benefit from MI, consider reaching out to a ReachLink clinical social worker. Our licensed mental health professionals can help you see your full potential, embrace your strengths, and implement changes for a healthier, more fulfilling life.

With ReachLink, you can connect with a licensed clinical social worker who has experience using motivational interviewing as a way of enhancing motivation to make meaningful change. Take the first step toward getting support and contact ReachLink today.