preview

Motivational Interviewing Essay

Decent Essays

Motivational interviewing was first described in the 1980’s and has since become increasingly popular. It was originally defined as a “directive, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence.” Currently, motivational interviewing is a commonly utilized, scientifically tested and validated method that is used in various counseling practices and health care settings. Rubak and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of empirical literature on the topic of motivational interviewing. With the goal of evaluating the degree to which motivational interviewing is applicable and efficacious, they reviewed 72 Randomized-Control Trials. Motivational interviewing is important as it helps clients recognize their intrinsic values and motivations, and helps them do something about their current or potential problems. By providing clients a framework in which to explore their goals, the contemplation and decisions around change can be synthesized and brought to life by the client themselves, rather than being imposed by the counselor. This is a key point of …show more content…

Motivational interviewing is created in a manner which helps clients recognize their resistance and gain a greater understanding of the costs and benefits of their current behavior. The self identifying component of evaluating their own behaviors and tendencies allows the client to lead the way, potentially increasing their self efficacy. Self efficacy can increase client’s belief in their ability to try succeed in achieving changes in behavior. The autonomy promoted throughout the process of motivational interviewing helps keep the client in control, which can help them understand their own power in their behavior and making

Get Access