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:
- Willingness: How open you are to change
- Ability: The confidence you have to change
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.