Benefits of motivational interviewing

Motivational interviewing is based on the premise that everyone possesses the ability to change.^{20, 21} The intention is to facilitate, empower and support patients to progress towards a positive lifestyle change. As a result, there are many benefits of utilising motivational interviewing in practice, including:

• gaining client rapport quickly
• reducing client anger and resistance
• increasing retention and engagement in treatment
• resolving ambivalence (and preparing client for change)
• increasing client motivation and change talk
• increasing client confidence in their own ability to make a positive lifestyle change

Motivational interviewing is particularly useful in helping patients who are ‘stuck’, resistant and angry, as well as patients who are in the early stages of behaviour change.^{20, 21}