Motivational Interviewing

Change is hard, especially when part of you wants it, and part of you doesn't. Motivational interviewing meets you exactly there, and helps you find your own reasons to move forward.

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What Is Motivational Interviewing?

Motivational interviewing is a collaborative, person-centered form of therapy designed to help people work through ambivalence and strengthen their own motivation to change. Rather than telling you what you should do, a therapist trained in motivational interviewing asks thoughtful questions and listens carefully, drawing out the goals, values, and reasons for change that already exist within you.

Developed in the 1980s by psychologists William Miller and Stephen Rollnick, motivational interviewing was originally created to support people with substance use challenges. Since then, its applications have expanded significantly. It is now used effectively across a broad range of mental health, behavioral, and medical concerns, and is recognized as one of the most well-researched therapeutic approaches available.

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motivational interviewing
motivational interviewing

Who Can Benefit from Motivational Interviewing Therapy?

Motivational interviewing therapy is a strong fit for anyone who feels stuck between where they are and where they want to be. It is particularly helpful for people navigating:

  • Substance use and addiction: including alcohol, drugs, or prescription misuse
  • Depression and low motivation: when the desire to change feels distant or inaccessible
  • Anxiety: particularly when avoidance has become a deeply ingrained pattern
  • Unhealthy behaviors: such as disordered eating, smoking, or inactivity
  • Medication non-adherence: when following through on treatment feels difficult
  • Major life changes: where uncertainty is creating resistance or paralysis
  • Chronic health conditions: where lifestyle changes are recommended but feel overwhelming

If you have found yourself saying, “I know I need to change, but I just can’t seem to do it,” motivational interviewing may be the right place to start.

What Happens in a Motivational Interviewing Session?

Sessions feel less like traditional therapy and more like a guided, honest conversation. Your therapist will not lecture you, assign blame, or push you toward a predetermined outcome. The process is built on genuine collaboration and respect for your autonomy.

Your therapist will use several core techniques throughout the work:

  • Open-ended questions invite you to explore your own thoughts and feelings about change, rather than responding with simple yes or no answers.
  • Reflective listening involves your therapist carefully mirroring back what you are saying, helping you hear your own ambivalence more clearly and feel genuinely understood.
  • Affirmations acknowledge your strengths and the efforts you have already made, even when progress feels slow.
  • Summarizing helps bring together the different threads of what you have shared, highlighting the reasons for change you have expressed in your own words.
  • Exploring discrepancy gently highlights the gap between your current behavior and your own stated values or goals, not to create guilt, but to clarify what matters to you and why change might be worth pursuing.

The approach is designed to reduce resistance rather than push through it. When people feel heard rather than judged, they are far more likely to move toward meaningful change.

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Motivational Interviewing at Your Local Psychiatrist

Our therapists bring real experience and genuine warmth to every session. We understand that ambivalence is not weakness; it is a natural part of the human experience, and working through it takes courage.

Motivational interviewing therapy can be used on its own or integrated with other approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), medication management, or other evidence-based treatments, depending on your needs. Our multidisciplinary team makes coordinated care straightforward if multiple services are right for you.

All appointments are conducted via telehealth, so you can attend sessions from anywhere in New York State. We accept most major insurance plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Healthfirst, and more.

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You do not need to have everything figured out before you reach out. That is exactly what this work is for.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Motivational interviewing is used to help people work through ambivalence around change. It is applied across a wide range of challenges, including substance use, depression, anxiety, unhealthy behaviors, medication adherence, and major life transitions. It is effective both as a primary approach and as a complement to other therapies.

Most therapy approaches work on the assumption that you are already committed to change. Motivational interviewing is designed specifically for those who are not yet there, or who feel pulled in two directions at once. It focuses on building internal motivation rather than providing tools to use once motivation is already in place.

Motivational interviewing is often described as brief therapy. Some patients experience meaningful shifts in just a few sessions. Others benefit from a longer course, particularly when it is integrated with other treatment approaches. Your therapist will work with you to determine the right pace and duration.

Yes. Motivational interviewing has decades of research support across a wide range of conditions and populations. It is endorsed by major clinical organizations and is recognized as an effective, evidence-based approach by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), among others.

Yes. All appointments at Your Local Psychiatrist are conducted via telehealth, and motivational interviewing translates well to video sessions. Many patients find that speaking from a comfortable, familiar environment makes it easier to open up and engage.

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