Motivational interviewing is a technique I believe would be useful with some clients. According to Rollnick and Miller it is useful with clients who are exhibiting ambivalence. That is, they are indecisive in determining their behavior choices, or unwilling to examine them. This style of counseling directs the conversations with the client to help uncover reasons to embrace behaviors or avoid behaviors. This technique could be useful with those suffering from addiction and even abusers, because motivational interviewing “relies upon identifying and mobilizing the client’s intrinsic values and goals to stimulate behavior change” (Rollnick & Miller, 1995). The counselor is helping the client pull information from their life to explain their behaviors from a personal perspective rather than explaining it to them and suggesting change from a clinical perspective alone. Jenkins explains this difference well when comparing collaboration versus confrontation, evocation versus education, and autonomy versus authority (Jenkins, 2003). The Four Guiding Principles Jenkins provides were very enlightening and his through explanations of how to talk with ambivalent clients really opened my eyes in some respects.
It does seem like a very pain-staking process when you read all of the data, but very sound and intelligent. I really don’t see it as useful with children as the client needs to understand intrinsic thoughts and values in order to benefit. I think it always important for a counselor to not present themselves in a condescending manner to their clients and use whatever technique what be most useful for each individual’s situation.
References
Rollnick S., & Miller, W.R. (1995). What is motivational interviewing? Behavioral and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 23, 325-334. Retrieved April 7, 2009 from http://motivationalinterview.org/clinical/whatismi.html.
Jenkins, David, (2003). Working with addictive disorders: a motivational interviewing perspective. Paper presented at the 2003 AACC World Conference, Nashville, TN.