What is Motivational Interviewing primarily focused on?

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is primarily focused on creating a collaborative partnership between the practitioner and the individual seeking help. This approach emphasizes the importance of understanding the individual’s perspective, values, and motivations while encouraging them to explore and resolve their ambivalence toward change. Through active listening, empathy, and open-ended questions, MI helps individuals articulate their own reasons for making changes, thus enhancing their intrinsic motivation.

This foundational aspect of MI fosters a supportive environment that empowers individuals to take ownership of their decisions regarding their recovery or behavioral changes. By focusing on partnership and eliciting the individual's personal motivation, MI effectively facilitates the change process.

While other approaches in mental health, like structured behavioral interventions or cognitive behavioral therapy, are valuable in their own right, they do not emphasize the same collaborative decision-making and motivational exploration that are central to Motivational Interviewing.