Journey to Healing Counseling

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Motivational Interviewing

What is Motivational Interviewing and How It Can Help You Achieve Your Goals

When it comes to achieving our personal or professional goals, the path forward can sometimes feel unclear or overwhelming. Many of us know what we should be doing but struggle to take consistent action. Whether it’s adopting healthier habits, breaking a bad habit, or achieving a major milestone, we can all benefit from tools that help us overcome obstacles and find motivation from within.

One such tool is Motivational Interviewing (MI), a powerful, evidence-based approach designed to spark motivation and guide individuals toward positive behavioral change. So what is Motivational Interviewing and how can it help you achieve your goals.

What Is Motivational Interviewing?

Motivational Interviewing is a client-centered, collaborative approach designed to help you find your own motivation to make changes. Unlike other therapeutic methods where advice or directives are given, MI is based on guiding you through your own exploration of why change is important to you and how you can achieve it.

Developed by psychologists William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick in the 1980s, MI was initially used to help individuals struggling with substance use. However, its effectiveness has been demonstrated in many other areas, such as mental health, chronic illness management, and even in career and personal development.

How Motivational Interviewing Works

The core of MI is built around creating a safe and empathetic environment where you can talk openly about the changes you want to make and explore your feelings about those changes. It’s not about me telling you what to do or forcing you into a direction—it’s about you discovering and articulating your own reasons for making a change.

There are several key principles that guide the process of MI:

  1. Expressing Empathy: One of the most important aspects of MI is making sure you feel heard and understood. MI therapistsstrive to create a non-judgmental environment where individuals feel understood and accepted. This helps build trust and allows people to feel safe in exploring their own reasons for change.
  2. Developing Discrepancy: Together, we’ll work to identify the gap between where you are now and where you want to be. By talking about the pros and cons of staying the same versus making a change, you’ll start to see more clearly why taking action is in your best interest.
  3. Rolling with Resistance: It’s normal to feel resistance when it comes to change. Rather than confront resistance head-on, MI acknowledges that it’s part of the process. I’ll gently explore your reasons for resistance with you, which often helps uncover hidden motivations and makes the path forward feel more achievable.
  4. Supporting Self-Efficacy: One of the central beliefs of MI is that you are capable of making change. We’ll focus on your strengths and past successes to build your confidence in your ability to succeed.
  5. Eliciting Change Talk: MI emphasizes the importance of talking about the change you want to make. By exploring your motivations and articulating your reasons for change, you become more committed to taking the necessary steps.

Why Motivational Interviewing Can Help You Achieve Your Goals

You may be wondering, “How can this approach actually help me in my life?” Well, let me break it down:

1. Clarifying Your Goals and Values

One of the first steps toward achieving your goals is to gain clarity. Often, we know we want change, but we’re not sure exactly what that change looks like or why it’s important to us. MI helps you explore your values and uncover what really matters to you. This deep understanding allows us to align your goals with your core values, making the process of working toward them feel more authentic and motivating.

2. Overcoming Ambivalence and Doubt

We’ve all been there—feeling stuck, unsure about whether we should take the leap or stay where we are. MI is particularly helpful for those moments of ambivalence. If you’re torn between making a change and staying the same, MI helps you explore both sides. You’ll gain a better understanding of your inner conflict and be able to make a decision that feels right to you. This process often leads to a stronger commitment to making the change.

3. Building Confidence and Self-Efficacy

Sometimes, the biggest obstacle to achieving your goals is a lack of belief in yourself. You might think, “I don’t have what it takes” or “I’ve tried before and failed.” MI works to build your confidence by reminding you of past successes and helping you tap into your strengths. The more you recognize your ability to succeed, the more motivated you become to push forward.

4. Staying on Track

Motivational Interviewing doesn’t just help you take the first step—it helps you stay on track. Change can be difficult, and there will inevitably be obstacles along the way. MI provides ongoing support, helping you reflect on your progress, adjust your strategies, and stay committed to your goals. This process is empowering because you’re in control of the decisions you make and the path you take.

Research: Is Motivational Interviewing Effective?

I want to assure you that MI isn’t just a theoretical concept—it’s an evidence-based practice that has been proven to work. Extensive research has shown that MI can be highly effective in a variety of areas:

  • Substance Use: MI is widely regarded as one of the most effective treatments for addiction. Studies have shown that it reduces substance use and helps individuals stay in treatment longer (Lundahl et al., 2010).
  • Health Behavior Change: Whether it’s losing weight, quitting smoking, or sticking to a fitness routine, MI has been proven to improve health outcomes. A study in 2015 found that MI was effective in promoting physical activity and healthy eating, particularly in individuals with chronic conditions (Vasilenko et al., 2015).
  • Mental Health: MI can also be beneficial for addressing mental health concerns like anxiety and depression. In a 2020 study, MI helped individuals improve emotional regulation and coping strategies, leading to better mental health outcomes (Miller et al., 2020).
  • Work and Career Development: MI has even been used to improve motivation in the workplace. By helping individuals set and achieve career goals, MI increases job satisfaction and professional success.

How You Can Use Motivational Interviewing in Your Life

You don’t have to wait until you are working with a therapist to start using MI techniques. Here are some ways you can use MI in your daily life:

  • Ask yourself open-ended questions: Reflect on why a goal matters to you and what benefits you’ll gain by achieving it.
  • Identify any ambivalence you might feel: Recognize when you’re torn between making a change and staying where you are, and explore both sides of the decision.
  • Focus on your strengths: Remind yourself of past successes and build your confidence by acknowledging your ability to succeed.
  • Visualize the steps you’ll take: Break down your goal into manageable steps and visualize the process. This will make it feel more achievable and less daunting.

Motivational Interviewing can be a transformative approach for achieving your goals because it taps into your internal motivation, builds confidence, and helps you make decisions that align with your values. If you’re struggling to take the next step in your life, whether it’s overcoming a challenge, making a positive change, or improving your mental health, MI could be the key to unlocking your potential.

If you’re interested in learning more about how MI can help you, I’d be happy to explore this approach with you in therapy. Together, we can work through the challenges you’re facing and create a roadmap that will lead to the positive changes you’re ready to make.

References:

  • Lundahl, B., Moleni, T., Burke, B. L., & et al. (2010). “Motivational interviewing in medical care settings: A meta-analytic review.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(6), 1373-1381.
  • Vasilenko, S. A., Piper, M. E., Lanza, S. T., & Tindle, H. A. (2015). “Motivational interviewing and health behavior change: An integrative review.” Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 29(2), 404–413.
  • Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2020). Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People for Change. 3rd edition. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
Scroll to top