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MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING
WHAT IS MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING?
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a compassionate, person-centered approach to conversation that helps people explore and resolve ambivalence about change. Rooted in empathy, MI supports individuals in discovering their own internal motivation, making meaningful and lasting change more likely than through directive or prescriptive methods.
Backed by decades of research, MI is widely used across professional settings including healthcare, substance use disorder treatment, criminal justice, education, social services, and business. Its effectiveness has been demonstrated across diverse populations, cultures, and disciplines, from patient care and counseling to leadership and management.
Through the intentional use of specific language and active listening skills, MI practitioners guide conversations in a way that honors the client’s autonomy and wisdom. Rather than pushing for change, practitioners help clients explore what truly matters to them, gently uncovering their own reasons for change and strengthening their commitment to it.
At its core, MI is about partnership. By sitting alongside rather than across from clients, and by leading with empathy and curiosity, practitioners build trusting relationships that create space for transformation...one meaningful conversation at a time.
WHY IT MATTERS
Knowing what might help and feeling ready to act are different things. Someone may want a change and have good reasons to hesitate. Advice alone may leave those concerns unexplored.
MI gives us a way to understand both sides of that ambivalence. We can bring our knowledge to the conversation while making room for the person’s experiences, priorities, and choices.
This matters whenever our work involves change: in healthcare, education, community services, or conversations with colleagues.
WHERE IS IT USED?
MI is used across a wide range of fields and populations, including:
Healthcare
Chronic disease management, and patient engagement
Social Services
Case management, child welfare, and access to community support
Leadership and Business
Team communication, and organizational change
Education
Academic advising, student support, and learning goals
Mental Health
Substance use treatment, recovery, and behavioral health care
Criminal justice
Probation, rehabilitation, and reentry support
Its adaptability makes it valuable in any setting where behavior change, communication, or relationship-building is key.
LEARNING MI IS A JOURNEY
MI takes practice. A workshop offers a place to begin; using the skills in everyday conversations raises new questions and creates opportunities to learn.
Feedback, coaching, and reflection help practitioners notice what is working and what they want to develop next. Training can meet people at different points in that process.
Foundations
Explore partnership, acceptance, compassion, and empowerment. These are the qualities that make up the spirit of MI. Begin practicing its core skills to recognize ambivalence, listen reflectively, and guide conversations about change.
Continued Skill Development
Build on foundational learning through practice, feedback, and coaching. Work with situations from your own setting and develop greater flexibility in responding to the person in front of you.
Integration Into Practice
Refine skills and make MI part of everyday work. For organizations, this may include reflective practice groups, coaching, supervision, and leadership involvement to sustain learning over time.
You can read more about training expectations here.
BRINGING MI INTO YOUR WORK
For Helping Professionals
MI offers a way to approach conversations that feel stuck. You can explore hesitation, respond to ambivalence, and share information without taking on the task of convincing someone to change.
Training connects MI concepts with the situations you encounter in practice. There is time to try the skills, reflect on familiar habits, and consider how you want to respond differently.
For Organizations
Learning MI together gives teams a shared approach to conversations about change. Staff and leaders can practice listening, discussing concerns, and working toward a clear focus while respecting individual perspectives.
Training can be paired with coaching and ongoing practice to help teams use MI within the realities of their setting.
LEARNING MI WITH ANGELINA
Angelina Moore Maia, PhD, RDN, LDN, has been a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) since 2016. Her work draws on experience in clinical nutrition care, higher education, and professional training.
She has taught MI to healthcare professionals, dietitians, social workers, educators, and interprofessional teams. She also provides MI coding and coaching to help practitioners examine their skills and identify areas for continued learning.
Her teaching connects concepts with real conversations. Participants have opportunities to practice, ask questions, receive feedback, and reflect on how MI fits their work.
