What is motivational interviewing and why is it used in WIPHL?
Motivational interviewing, or MI, is a respectful, empathic, patient-centered and strength-based philosophy of promoting behavior change. Motivational interviewers give advice very sparingly and never give direction. They initially help individuals decide whether they’d like to change their alcohol or drug use by having them consider the advantages and drawbacks of their use in light of their goals and values. For individuals who decide that they’d like to make a change, motivational interviewers help them decide how they’ll go about changing. They offer a framework for thinking about a change plan, and they offer options to consider but always leave the decisionmaking to the patient. We use these methods because ample research and our own experience has shown that they are effective for many individuals and are well-received by all individuals. (Further reading: Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People for Change, by William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick, The Guilford Press, 2002.
