Motivational Interviewing and Rehabilitation Counseling Practice

Abstract

This article explores commonalities between rehabilitation counseling and the counseling approach known as motivational interviewing. Motivational interviewing is an empirically supported, client-centered, directive counseling approach designed to promote client motivation and reduce motivational conflicts and barriers to change. The underpinnings of motivational interviewing are related to several principles that drive rehabilitation counseling practice. Motivational interviewing focuses on issues that have been emphasized in the rehabilitation literature: clients' sense of the importance of potential changes, their confidence that change can be successful, and their readiness to make changes. Current and potential uses of motivational interviewing in rehabilitation counseling practice are outlined, and additional research directions are recommended.