What is the purpose of motivational interviewing?

Motivational interviewing is designed to elicit and strengthen a person's motivation for change. It is a collaborative conversation style that aims to empower individuals by exploring their own reasons for wanting to make a change, rather than imposing reasons or behaviors from an external source. This approach recognizes that individuals often ambulate with feelings of ambivalence about change, so the goal is to help them articulate their own motivations and resolve internal conflict.

By focusing on the individual's personal values and goals, motivational interviewing fosters a supportive environment, encouraging them to take ownership of their decisions. This practice is particularly effective in settings such as substance use treatment, health behavior changes, and mental health support, where building intrinsic motivation is critical to promoting lasting change. Through open-ended questions, reflective listening, and affirmations, the counselor facilitates a deeper self-exploration that leads to strengthened commitment to the change process.

In contrast, the other options, while important in their own contexts, do not capture the essence of what motivational interviewing seeks to achieve. It is not a method for diagnosing mental illnesses, a way to instruct individuals on proper behavior, or a technique for enforcing compliance, as these approaches can undermine the autonomy and self-determination that are central to motivational interviewing principles.