Motivational interviewing: A special ethical dilemma?

Comments on the article by W. R. Miller (see record 1995-10478-001) concerning the ethics of motivational intervention. Motivational interviewing is typically used when a therapist perceives a need for behavior change in someone who is ambivalent about such change. Miller discussed what was manipulative about this approach and considered both a descriptive and evaluative component. The ethics of motivational interviewing are considered here, within the context of psychological therapy in a general sense, and questions whether the ethical issues relevant to motivational interviewing are different from other psychological interventions. A distinction between the goals and the means of obtaining therapeutic goals is suggested as useful. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)