Motivational Interviewing
Collaborative conversation that builds a person's own motivation to change.
Motivational interviewing does not argue someone into recovery. It works with ambivalence directly, on the basis that motivation which comes from the person tends to outlast motivation applied from outside.
It is often where the work starts, particularly for people who arrived under pressure from someone else.
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What is motivational interviewing?
Motivational interviewing is a supportive and respectful talk therapy method that helps you explore and resolve your feelings of uncertainty about change. Sessions are conversations, guided by your clinician, that uncover your personal motivations for moving toward recovery.
Our role is to listen, understand, and help you find the inner strength and wisdom you already possess. Your clinician guides each session with a clear focus on recovery.
The three pillars of motivational interviewing
The spirit of motivational interviewing is guided by core principles that ensure every conversation is respectful and empowering.
We work with you, not against you. Your clinician is a partner who walks alongside you on your journey. This relationship is built on a foundation of trust and mutual respect, creating a safe space where you can be open and honest.
Our clinicians are skilled at asking the right questions to help you discover and voice your own reasons for wanting a different future.
How does motivational interviewing work?
The practice of motivational interviewing relies on specific communication skills that foster productive, non-judgmental conversations. These evidence-based techniques help your clinician understand your perspective and guide you toward discovering your own desire for change. The primary method used is known as OARS.
The OARS method
- O - Open-ended questions: Your clinician will ask questions that invite you to share your story in your own words, rather than questions that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." This encourages deeper reflection and helps you explore your thoughts and feelings more fully.
- A - Affirmations: Throughout your conversations, your clinician will genuinely recognize your strengths, positive qualities, and the efforts you make, no matter how small they may seem. Affirmations help build your confidence and reinforce your ability to make positive changes.
- R - Reflective listening: This is more than just hearing words; it's about understanding the meaning behind them. Your clinician will listen carefully and reflect back what you’ve said. This shows that they understand your perspective and also allows you to hear your own thoughts from a new angle, often leading to new insights.
- S - Summaries: Every so often, your clinician will pull together the key points of your conversation. Summaries help reinforce understanding, highlight your own statements about wanting to change, and show the progress you are making in your thought process.
What a motivational interviewing session feels like
Imagine sitting down with a clinician and feeling heard without judgment. " As you talk, the clinician might say, "It sounds like on one hand, it helps you relax, but on the other, you're worried about how it's affecting your family. " This is the essence of an MI session—a structured conversation, guided by your clinician, that helps you work through complex feelings.
The processes of motivational interviewing
While motivational interviewing is flexible and tailored to you, it generally follows a natural flow through four processes.
1. Engaging: Building a foundation of trust
The first and most important process is building a strong, trusting relationship with your clinician. This is where the foundation of your partnership is laid. Through warmth, empathy, and genuine curiosity, your clinician creates a safe environment where you feel respected and understood.
2. Focusing: Finding a clear direction together
Once a trusting bond is formed, you and your clinician will work together to identify a specific area you might want to change. Your clinician guides this process, keeping the focus on goals that are meaningful and relevant to you.
3. Evoking: Drawing out your "Why"
This is the heart of motivational interviewing. During this process, your clinician will help you explore your own reasons for change. By listening for "change talk"—any statement you make that favors change—they can help you strengthen your motivation and commitment.
4. Planning: Creating an actionable path forward
Your clinician then shifts the conversation toward creating a concrete plan, built around your goals. This ensures the plan is realistic, achievable, and something you feel confident in carrying out.
Resolving ambivalence toward change
One of the most common and difficult feelings when considering recovery is ambivalence—having mixed feelings about change. You might see the negative consequences of substance use while also feeling that it serves a purpose in your life (like easing stress or connecting with others). Motivational interviewing is uniquely suited to help you navigate this internal conflict.
Feeling "stuck" or conflicted about giving up drugs or alcohol is completely normal. Drugs or alcohol might seem like a good way of coping with stress, pain, or difficult emotions. It makes sense that part of you may be hesitant to let that go. There's no shame in feeling torn. Our clinicians will help you see the good in making a change and help you find your strength for coping after letting substances go.
Motivational interviewing sessions are safe spaces where you can explore both sides of your ambivalence without pressure. By using OARS and other techniques, your clinician helps you talk through your conflicting feelings. This process gently helps you tip the balance, allowing your own reasons for change to become stronger than your reasons for staying the same.
How we use motivational interviewing at Spring Grove Recovery
We're able to use motivational interviewing for any client who can benefit from it. Our clinicians are trained and experienced in using MI to treat substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions.
- Substance abuse treatment : It serves as a primary therapy to build and strengthen your motivation for sobriety from the very beginning of treatment. Getting sober is one of the biggest motivators for our clients at the start of their journeys, but motivation can fade quickly. MI helps strengthen your reasons for change so you can keep looking forward.
- Co-occurring mental health counseling : We use MI to make it easier to engage in therapy for conditions like depression, anxiety, or trauma that often accompany addiction. Many people are living with undiagnosed or unmanaged mental health conditions that make it harder to recover. Motivational interviewing can identify reasons to take care of your whole health, mental health included.
Clinical benefits of motivational interviewing
It can help you understand and commit to taking medications like Vivitrol or buprenorphine (Subutex) as prescribed, which reduce your risk of relapse. Motivational interviewing also encourages positive changes in diet, exercise, and smoking cessation, supporting your overall physical and mental health. Recovery is more than just getting sober. It's about making changes that keep you healthy.
Motivational interviewing vs. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
You may have heard of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), another highly effective, evidence-based therapy we use at Spring Grove Recovery. It’s helpful to understand how MI and CBT differ and how they can work together.
Different approaches, shared goals
Think of it this way: motivational interviewing is focused on the why of change. It helps you build the motivation you need to start the journey. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is focused on the how . It gives you the practical skills and strategies to manage cravings, change negative thought patterns, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Better together
MI and CBT form a powerful combination. For someone who is ambivalent about treatment, starting with MI can help them become ready and willing to do the structured work of CBT. By first finding your motivation with MI, you are better prepared to learn and apply the valuable skills offered in CBT, making your overall treatment far more effective.
Does motivational interviewing really work?
Motivational interviewing is an evidence-based practice with research supporting its effectiveness in addiction treatment.
Who benefits most from motivational interviewing?
MI is effective for a wide range of people, but it is especially helpful for those who feel uncertain, resistant, or deeply ambivalent about making a change. If you've felt pressured to change—or have tried to get sober before and faced a setback—MI offers a different approach that builds on your strengths.
Proven outcomes in addiction treatment
Research consistently shows that motivational interviewing leads to better outcomes . Research links it to better engagement and retention in treatment and to reduced substance use.
Part of our clinical expertise and commitment to excellence
We're committed to providing the highest standard of care. Our expertise in motivational interviewing is a reflection of our compassionate, person-centered philosophy.
Licensed and accredited:
Spring Grove Recovery is fully licensed by the state and accredited by The Joint Commission, which means we meet rigorous national standards for safety and quality of care.
Specialized training:
Our clinical team receives extensive, ongoing training and supervision in motivational interviewing and other evidence-based practices to ensure they provide the most effective support.
A commitment to compassion:
We don’t just use MI as a technique; we embody its spirit in everything we do. Our team is dedicated to practicing empathy, respect, and collaboration every single day.
How long does motivational interviewing take?
The length of MI is flexible, often delivered over one to four sessions. It can be used in brief, 15-minute interventions or as an ongoing therapeutic style throughout your treatment. It is always adapted to your individual needs.
Will I be forced to change?
Absolutely not. Motivational interviewing is a non-confrontational approach. Your clinician helps you find your own reasons for change rather than forcing change upon you.
Is motivational interviewing covered by insurance?
As a core, evidence-based component of addiction treatment, MI is typically covered by most insurance plans, including Medicaid. Contact our admissions team to verify your benefits or talk about paying for treatment .
Ready to find your motivation for change?
Change is possible, and you don’t have to find the way forward alone. The team at Spring Grove Recovery is here to help you take the first step with the dignity, respect, and support you deserve. We are here to listen to your story and help you discover the strength that already lies within you. Contact us today to find out how our compassionate, person-centered approach can help you or your loved one build a new beginning.
Talk to admissions today.
Admissions answers 24/7, 365 days a year. The coverage check happens on the call.