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Motivational Interviewing (MI)

What Is Motivational Interviewing?

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based approach that helps individuals explore and resolve mixed feelings about change.

Many people come to therapy because they know they want something to be different, but another part of them feels uncertain, hesitant, overwhelmed, or not quite ready to take action. This is a normal part of the change process. In fact, most significant changes involve some degree of ambivalence.

For example, someone may want to set better boundaries but worry about disappointing others, or want to reduce avoidance but feel afraid of facing uncomfortable situations. These mixed feelings are a normal part of the change process and do not mean you are unmotivated or resistant.

Motivational Interviewing helps us explore both sides of that experience without judgment. Rather than telling you what you should do, we work together to better understand what matters to you, what may be getting in the way, and what changes feel realistic and meaningful. The goal is to help you identify your own reasons for change, strengthen motivation, and build confidence in your ability to take the next step.

What Motivational Interviewing Can Help With

MI can be helpful whenever part of you wants to make a change, but another part feels uncertain, overwhelmed, afraid, or not quite ready.

MI is often used to help individuals who are struggling with:

  • Avoidance and difficulty taking action
  • Anxiety that interferes with decision-making or follow-through
  • Ambivalence about therapy or treatment recommendations
  • Perfectionism and fear of making the wrong choice
  • Setting boundaries in relationships
  • Parenting changes and family-related challenges
  • Health-related behavior changes
  • Building readiness for exposure-based treatment or other therapeutic work
  • Feeling stuck despite knowing what needs to change

Many people who benefit from MI describe experiences such as:

  • “I know what I should do, but I can’t seem to make myself do it.”
  • “I keep going back and forth.”
  • “I’m afraid of making the wrong decision.”
  • “I want things to be different, but change feels overwhelming.”
motivational interviewing

These experiences are common and are often a normal part of the change process, not a sign that you are lazy, resistant, or unmotivated.

How Motivational Interviewing Works

For example, someone struggling with anxiety may know that avoiding certain situations is limiting their life but still feel afraid to take the next step. A parent may know they need to set firmer boundaries but worry about upsetting their child.

Rather than taking one side or trying to convince you what to do, MI helps us explore both sides of the situation. Together, we look at what is making change appealing, what is making change difficult, and what may be getting in the way of moving forward.

In therapy, we often focus on:

  • Exploring mixed feelings about change
  • Clarifying personal values, priorities, and goals
  • Identifying barriers that may be interfering with progress
  • Examining the costs and benefits of different options
  • Strengthening confidence in your ability to make changes
  • Identifying realistic next steps that feel achievable

Sessions often involve discussion, reflection, exploration of different perspectives, and identifying what matters most to you.

Our Approach and What to Expect in Motivational Interviewing

Our approach to MI is no different than our approach to any other concern we treat. We begin by seeking to understand your experiences, goals, concerns, and the factors that may be contributing to feeling stuck.

We view ambivalence as a normal part of the change process rather than a sign of resistance or a lack of motivation.

We work collaboratively to understand what matters most to you and identify realistic next steps that align with your values and goals.
Clients often describe our approach as supportive, respectful, and nonjudgmental. We believe lasting change is more likely when individuals feel understood, have a voice in the treatment process, and are working toward goals that are personally important rather than imposed by others.

Early in treatment, we often explore past experiences with change, including what has been helpful, what has not worked, and what may be useful moving forward.

Throughout the process, we use discussion, reflection, values exploration, goal-setting, and other strategies to help you gain clarity and strengthen motivation.

Depending on your needs, treatment may also involve examining barriers to progress, exploring different options, increasing confidence in your ability to make changes, and identifying small, achievable steps that can help build momentum over time.

While MI can be used as a primary intervention, it is often integrated with other evidence-based approaches depending on your needs. These may include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), DBT-informed interventions, mindfulness-based approaches, trauma-informed therapy, or other strategies that support your treatment goals.

Rather than following a rigid formula, we tailor treatment to your unique circumstances, needs, and goals.

Throughout treatment, we regularly evaluate what is helping, what challenges remain, and make adjustments as needed to support your goals.

Benefits of Motivational Interviewing

While every individual’s experience is different, many people find that MI helps them move from feeling stuck, conflicted, or overwhelmed toward greater clarity and confidence.

Over time, individuals may:

  • Gain a better understanding of what they want to change and why
  • Feel less torn between competing priorities or decisions
  • Develop greater confidence in their ability to make changes
  • Reduce self-criticism, shame, or frustration related to feeling stuck
  • Feel more prepared to take meaningful action toward goals that are personally important
  • Become more engaged in the therapy process
  • Feel a greater sense of ownership over their decisions and progress

Many people also notice practical changes in their daily lives, such as spending less time going back and forth over decisions, following through more consistently on goals, and feeling more confident taking steps that align with what matters most to them.

For some individuals, MI helps increase readiness for other therapeutic interventions, such as exposure-based treatment, behavior change, lifestyle modifications, changes in thinking patterns, or work on long-standing patterns that previously felt overwhelming.

Is Motivational Interviewing Right for You?

MI may be helpful if you feel stuck between wanting change and feeling uncertain about how to move forward. Many individuals who benefit from MI know something needs to be different but are unsure how to take the next step.

MI may be used as a primary intervention or integrated with other treatment approaches depending on your needs and goals.

You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out for support.

Contact our office to schedule an appointment and learn whether MI may be a helpful part of your treatment.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Motivational Interviewing

No. While Motivational Interviewing is commonly used in substance use treatment, it can be helpful anytime someone feels stuck, conflicted, or uncertain about change.

In our practice, MI is often used to help individuals work through avoidance, anxiety-related barriers, perfectionism, difficulty making decisions, health-related behavior changes, parenting concerns, relationship challenges, or readiness for other therapeutic interventions such as ERP.

That is often exactly when MI can be most helpful.

Many people come to therapy knowing they want something to be different but feeling unsure about what to do next. MI helps individuals explore that uncertainty and identify realistic next steps.

No. While we may offer guidance, education, recommendations, or clinical expertise when appropriate, MI is not about telling you what decisions to make.

Instead, we work together to explore your goals, values, concerns, and options. The goal is to help you make informed decisions that align with what is important to you rather than simply following someone else’s expectations.

Yes. MI is often integrated with other evidence-based treatment approaches, such as CBT, depending on your needs, goals, and the concerns being addressed in therapy.

The answer depends on your goals and the role MI plays in treatment.
For some individuals, a relatively brief period of MI is enough to increase clarity, confidence, and readiness for change. For others, MI may be incorporated throughout therapy whenever uncertainty, ambivalence, or motivation become important parts of the work.