Motivational interviewing: Destination, direction, and means

(from the chapter) Motivational interviewing began as a response to the widespread use of confrontation in the treatment of individuals struggling with alcohol and drug problems. This confrontational approach was thought necessary to overcome pathological denial and inherent lack of motivation about changing substance use. Miller (1983, 1985), however, conceptualized motivation for changing substance use as generally similar to other difficult behavior change and proposed that the interaction between the client and the provider could be critical in eliciting an appetite for change. Motivational interviewing is a way for providers to maximize their contribution to the change equation. Miller and Rollnick have defined it as a person-centered, directive method of communication for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. This chapter discusses motivational interviewing in greater detail, including a case example. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) (chapter)