Motivational Interviewing (MI) is designed to help people find the motivation to make positive changes in their behavior. It’s especially useful when someone is ambivalent or reluctant to change. It focuses on strengthening a person's own motivation and commitment to change, rather than imposing external pressure.

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This process helps clients explore how important a change is and how confident they feel in their ability to make this change happen. Small steps may be identified to assist clients in building up their confidence which makes the change seem tangible.

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MI is commonly used in a variety of contexts, such as mental health therapy and substance use treatment. It can also be applied in workplace settings, where behavior change is desired.

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For example, an individual wants to be healthier by going to the gym but hasn’t taken any steps. A therapist would explore their reasons for wanting this change and what’s been getting in the way. Through this process, the individual determines if they are ready to take steps or if they need to focus on other things. Once they are ready, the therapist works with them to determine initial steps to start with. These steps are manageable and increase confidence towards their desired goal. Individuals typically report that MI helps them to feel empowered towards making meaningful changes.