Motivational interviewing: IV. Some parallels with horse whispering

Motivational interviewing is a client-centered, directive therapeutic style for initiating and facilitating change. Introduced through this journal two decades ago, it has been supported in a series of clinical trials as effective in enhancing behavior change through relatively brief intervention. The author explores parallels between this therapeutic style and the nonviolent “join-up” method of Monty Roberts for training and rehabilitating horses. Both methods emphasize a collaborative rather than adversarial working relationship, seek to enhance intrinsic motivation, and produce positive change in a briefer period of time than traditionally thought to be possible. Both respect the other's autonomy and choice, and move with rather than against resistance. Both seem to enhance the speed and amount of change that follow from behavioral methods.