Motivational Interviewing (MI)

MI is a counselling technique that focuses on enhancing the person’s motivation to make a change. MI focuses on four guiding principles: resisting the “righting reflex”, understanding the motivation for change, listening with empathy, and empowerment. Through these principles, clinicians work with patients to assess their motivation for change as they move through the stages of change.

Some areas MI can be helpful in are:

• Addictions and smoking cessation

• Health care and medication adherence

• Making decisions around big life transitions

• Reducing high risk sexual behaviors