Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing is a method for giving people the tools to recognize their own problems and create their own solutions for those problems.  It has been proven to help resolve ambivalence and effect behavior change by framing the information presented in a persuasive and supportive manner rather than an argumentative or confrontational manner.  The principles of Motivational Interviewing can be applied not only by probation officers in dealing with recalcitrant probationers, but also by judges dealing with litigants, witnesses, attorneys and defendants in a courtroom setting.

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• Enhancing Motivation for Change Inservice Training | Based on a Treatment Improvement Protocol TIP 35  Source- Government | This 240 page PDF file (11.74 MB) was prepared by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as a Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) for mental health professionals.  This manual provides a training structure for introducing substance abuse treatment professionals to the basic concepts and techniques of motivational enhancement interventions.  It explains the relationship between motivational interventions and the stages of change, demonstrates basic skills for enhancing client motivation, and discusses assessment tools which can be used to assess the client's readiness for change.

• Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People to Change Health Behaviors  Source- Government | This 35 slide PowerPoint presentation can be used as an adjunct to the Enhancing Motivation for Change SAMHSA manual.  It contains a summary of the key elements of motivational interviewing, discusses resistance to change, and illustrates the approach of Motivational Interviewing to effect change behaviors.

• Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People to Change Health Behaviors - TIP SHEET  Source- Government | This two-page document, also prepared by SAMHSA, is an excellent, brief summary of the basic concepts and key elements of the process of Motivational Interviewing.

• Strategies for Assessing Importance and Confidence Source- Government | This one-page document, also prepared by SAMHSA, can be used as an assessment tool to determine how important change is to any particular individual, and how confident that individual is that change can be achieved.