What is Motivational Interviewing Therapy?

Have you ever wanted to make a change in your life but felt you just weren’t ready yet? What you were most likely lacking in that moment was motivation. 

Motivational Interviewing Therapy is a technique used at Broward Therapists that focuses on this phase, helping empower clients to take responsibility and therefore make changes in their lives.

What is Motivational Interviewing Therapy?

Motivational Interviewing is a client-centered counseling approach that works to prompt change. 

During Motivational Interviewing sessions, there’s no judgment or confrontation. Rather, a highly-trained Broward Therapist will help you find the inner motivation needed to change your behavior and guide you on how to live your best life.

How does Motivational Interviewing Therapy work?

Open communication and collaboration between the client and counselor are at the core of Motivational Interviewing. 

Throughout Motivational Interviewing, there are several techniques used by counselors during sessions: 

1. Asking open-ended questions, which encourages genuine conversations

2. Practicing reflective listening, which encourages empathy for the client 

3. Providing affirmations, which help clients’ confidence 

4. Summarizing, which allows both the client and counselor to clarify thoughts and reinforce key points

What is the process of treatment during Motivational Interviewing Therapy?

There are phases that Motivational Interviewing flows between during sessions that help clients on the path toward better mental well-being, which includes: 

1. Engagement: This phase lets the client introduce themselves to the counselor. There are no solutions or problem-solving during this phase, just conversations and getting to know one another 

2. Focusing: This is where the heart of treatment arrives. During this phase, clients and counselors will discuss goals and changes, values and behaviors 

3. Evoking: This process elicits a client's own intrinsic motivations and desires to change

4. Planning: Your counselor will help you make a plan for your future when you’re ready

How effective is Motivational Interviewing?

Motivational Interviewing has been proven to be effective with significant research supporting its efficacy. 

Further, Motivational Interviewing is proven to be beneficial for helping clients take responsibility for their actions while building their self-confidence and trust.

Who does Motivational Interviewing Therapy benefit?

William Miller and Stephen Rollnick originally created Motivational Interviewing Therapy in the 1980s to address alcohol and drug addiction. However, the two found that the approach was helpful to clients and could be used for different situations and scenarios. 

Now, Motivational Interviewing Therapy is used by counselors to help address eating disorders, thoughts of suicide, smoking, gambling, hoarding, substance use disorder and chronic medical conditions.

Motivational Interviewing Therapy at Broward Therapists

Motivational Interviewing Therapy can be a gentle yet supportive way to help you move forward on the path to better mental well-being. 

With a team of over 20 licensed counselors, at Broward Therapists, we’re here to help heal what matters most. If you’re wondering if Motivational Interviewing Therapy could be right for you, reach out to find the support and guidance you’re looking for.