What is the core purpose of Motivational Interviewing?

The core purpose of Motivational Interviewing is to elicit behavior change. This approach primarily focuses on helping individuals explore and resolve their ambivalence about change. It is a person-centered counseling style that encourages clients to articulate their reasons for wanting to change, which can enhance their intrinsic motivation to take action. By facilitating a supportive and collaborative dialogue, Motivational Interviewing empowers clients to recognize and confront their own motivations, leading them to make positive changes in their behavior.

While promoting therapeutic techniques, developing strong client relationships, and facilitating intense emotional sessions can play roles in the broader context of therapy, they are not the primary focus of Motivational Interviewing. Instead, the technique is specifically designed to inspire clients to take ownership of their change process, making behavior change the central goal.