Motivational Interviewing: A Collaborative Treatment for Lasting Change

Motivational interviewing is an innovative counseling method that works by helping you find the inner motivation to work through insecurities and to resolve mixed feelings.

At MPower Wellness, we take your goals for lasting recovery from substance abuse very seriously. This is why we offer MI as a goal-directed, person-centered type of psychotherapy. Often a brief intervention, it focuses on the difficulty of behavior change – and working through it with the patient’s priorities and desired behaviors in mind.

Your therapist will be committed to addressing your mixed feelings, also called “ambivalent” feelings. Through careful listening and an empathetic approach to your situation, motivational interviewing will help you commit to the process of change.

Motivational interviewing is widely used in the treatment of substance abuse, including alcohol dependence and drug abuse. Borrowing the basic principles of behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy, it is focused on resolving conflicting feelings and contradictory ideas (e.g. “part of me wants to change, part of me doesn’t”).

Motivational interviewing is more like a conversation than a lecture. It is a safe, non-judgmental space for you to evaluate your current perspectives, reflect on your past successes, and move towards change at your own pace.

How is motivational interviewing useful when tackling substance use disorders? The reason is very simple: through MI, you feel heard, not judged. This reduces resistance and invites “change talk” – the kind of talk that makes you open to change when it comes to substance use.

Instead of just being told to quit, which often has an unnerving effect, you will discover your own reasons to change addictive behavior. Motivational interviewing will help you to find your underlying spirit. Instead of “I’m not sure I want to stop”, your thoughts will shift towards “I want to change, and I believe I can!”

Motivational interviewing is a counseling approach that is widely used to treat substance use disorder because it relies on empathy, collaboration, and empowerment rather than confrontation or judgment.

The vast majority of people with substance use disorders are ambivalent about change – they know the harmful nature of their behavior, but they also fear losing something they value or rely on. MI helps you in exploring and resolving ambivalence in a positive way, and you eventually discover your own reasons for recovery.

One of the main strengths of MI is that it is non-confrontational – your therapist is there to express empathy. Rather than forcing you to stop using alcohol or drugs, your therapist uses reflective listening, affirmations, and open-ended questions to create a feeling of safety. This allows you to feel understood and respected, which reduces defensiveness and makes your receptive to behavior change.

Most importantly, MI is grounded in the belief that you are more likely to follow through with changes you identify as necessary and valuable yourself, rather than changes imposed upon you.

Among the core concepts of MI is discrepancy development – helping you notice the gap between where you are now and where you want to be in life. By making this disparity visible in a supportive way, Motivational interviewing raises motivation for change without judgment.

At the same time, it does not argue, but instead “rolls with resistance,” considering resistance not as opposition, but as a natural part of the process of helping patients change behavior.

Lastly, MI encourages self-efficacy, helping you to really believe in your ability to make and sustain positive changes, which is, as mentioned above, “change talk” (e.g. “I really want to quit drinking so I can be healthier”). This is significant in the treatment of substance abuse because feelings of hopelessness or powerlessness so often become your barrier to recovery – also called “sustain talk” (e.g. “Drinking relaxes me, and I’m not sure I could cope without it”).

Through a rigorous planning process, reflecting on any sustain talk, focusing on change talk, and identifying the patient’s strengths, MI instills hope and confidence that long-term addiction recovery and lasting behavior change is possible.

• Express Empathy – Create a safe, empathetic, and non-judgmental space.
• Develop Discrepancy – Highlight the discrepancy between the your current behaviors and long-term goals or values.
• Avoid Argumentation – Prevent defensiveness by avoiding argumentative approaches.
• Roll with Resistance – Recognize resistance as part of the process and explore it instead of resisting it.
• Support Self‑Efficacy – Reinforce confidence in the ability to change, and highlight past success.

In motivational interviewing, the OARS skills serve as a practical guideline for how your conversation with your therapist will flow, focusing on support and collaboration. These motivational interviewing techniques help create a safe space, build trust, and strengthen your own desire to commit to change.

The OARS techniques are:

• O – Open‑Ended Questions: Invite reflective answers and in-depth self-exploration.
• A – Affirmations: Identify and support strengths, efforts, and positive behavior.
• R – Reflective Listening: Mirror thoughts and feelings to show understanding and acknowledge your past experiences.
• S – Summaries: Unite key points of discussion to solidify progress and highlight your motivations.

Motivational interviewing treats substance use by helping people look for their own reasons to change and build their confidence to do so.

Instead of applying pressure or confrontation, MI creates a safe, positive setting where you feel at ease to talk about your challenges and goals openly. It helps you move from uncertainty to commitment at your own pace.

One of the greatest strengths of MI is that it is flexible. It has been used effectively not only in the treatment of substance abuse, but also mental illness treatment, behavioral healthcare, and even within the criminal justice system. Its versatility shows how malleable the approach is, no matter what your background and situation.

MI is also effective with a variety of problems, from alcohol and drug dependence, to behavioral addictions, and co‑occurring mental disorders often seen in young adults struggling with the complex reality of substance use. Its focus on exploring ambivalence makes it especially useful for individuals who are considering to quit, but don’t feel ready yet and need a gentle introduction to recovery.

For optimal results, MI can be combined with other evidence‑based therapies in clinical psychology, such as motivational enhancement therapy or cognitive behavior therapy. Studies identify MI as a highly successful way of reducing substance use, stimulating treatment adherence, and improving long‑term recovery outcomes.

Motivational interviewing differs from many of the traditional approaches to treating substance use disorders in that it’s not about listening to someone tell you what to do – it’s about being heard.

Out go the lectures and arm-twisting; in come the honest discussions where your thoughts, feelings, and goals take the lead. Your counselor will listen attentively, reflect and mirror on what you’re saying, and ask thoughtful questions to help you explore the benefits and limitations of your current mindset.

This helps you find out your personal reasons for change, giving you a sense of ownership – you are the one in charge of the process.

Another interesting fact is that MI is also effective for those who are not yet ready to change. Research has shown that motivational intervention, specifically change talk, reduces resistance, increases motivation, and improves treatment effectiveness, even when you are initially unsure about recovering.

MI therapy is typically supportive and collaborative in nature, aiming to explore the patient’s motivation. This builds confidence and highlights your strengths, so that you feel more confident about making positive changes in your life after each session.

What to expect in your motivational interviewing therapy:

• A safe, respectful environment, where your perspective matters.
• Open discussion, rather than lectures or instructions.
• Help in making sense of the pros and cons of substance use and change.
• Guidance in questioning ambivalence without pressure or conflict.
• Support to identify your motivations for change.
• A focus on building confidence and self-efficacy for long-term changes.

Motivational interviewing is a dynamic intervention because it engages you in a conversation that sparks change based on your own desire and reasons for change. Understanding more about how MI works can help you decide if this is the right choice for you right now.

Instead of passive techniques where therapists merely present advice, MI dynamically engages you in exploring your values, goals, and the outcome of your behavior. This keeps the process active and personally meaningful.

One of the defining characteristics of MI is listening to how you speak. Research shows that when a patient’s perspective is expressed authentically, taking action becomes a lot more likely. Trained counselors guide the conversation towards encouraging more such talk and towards reducing talking about the reasons for staying the same.

An interesting fact about motivational interviewing is that it can be administered in very brief sessions, as short as 15 minutes, or even as part of a longer-term treatment plan. This makes it extremely effective across many settings, including primary care and rehabilitation programs, and it has been proven to be effective across various age groups and cultures.

Motivational interviewing also empowers you by focusing on your strengths rather than your weakness. Instead of labeling you as “resistant” or “in denial,” this approach normalizes ambivalence and emphasizes self-efficacy—the belief that you are capable of change.

This strength-based, positive approach is likely to mobilize you and drive you towards sustainable results on your path of addiction recovery.