Customer Reviews

Motivational Interviewing, Second Edition: Preparing People for Change

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When do you use a Motivational Interviewing approach? Whenever there is ambivalence for change. How often does ambivalence for change occur? At almost any time people are considering some kind of change. In this 2nd edition of Motivational Interviewing, the authors are very clear that MI is not an approach that obviates the use of other therapy approaches, such as CBT, but is an approach that prepares people for change.

I have been a trainer in Motivational Interviewing since 1995 (see http://www.cathycoletraining.com) and am privileged to have received my training from the authors, Drs. Miller and Rollnick. The first edition, Motivational Interviewing, Preparing People to Change Addictive Behavior, provided information that has helped many professionals working in addictions a way to more effectively engage clients in the process of change. The 2nd edition is written so that professionals working with clients around any issues...mental health, health behavior, addictions, health promotion, life coaching...are able to apply the methods for exploring and resolving ambivalence for change.

The first three chapters of the book set the stage for understanding the nature of change and ambivalence for change so that the reader is more fully prepared to understand the value of fully understanding the client situation and eliciting desire, ability, reasons, need and committment for change from the client. This approach differs from the often tendency to understand the client's situation and then in a well meaning way, prescribe the needed steps for change. The strategies for interacting with clients via the use of open ended questions and the use of reflective responses is clearly discussed. Methods for eliciting change talk and responding to the concept of resistance are easily understood and examples are provided that will assist readers in considering how this approach will fit into their unique situations.

Of great value to me has been the expanded view of the concept of client resistance. From the MI approach, resistance is seen as occuring in context and is conceived of as dissonance...just a lack of harmony, or being on the same page together. When viewed in this way, it just signals the professional that another approach is needed. How to 'roll with resistance' is then illustrated very clearly.

This edition of Motivational Interviewing has expanded my ability to provide training. Even more importantly, the emphasis of this edition has underscored even more for me,that in my provision of psychotherapy, MI is not an approach to be pulled out for special occasions but is the treatment philosophy from which I approach all clients, despite the particular therapy modality utilized in the specific work.

I love this book. The second edition is a big improvement over the first as it makes the MI approach more generic (as it should be) and less tied specifically to substance abuse. I regularly use this book when teaching beginning therapy skills to doctoral students in clinical psychology, but it's not just a book for beginners. What I like is the way Miller & Rollnick spend a lot of time talking about generic skills fundamental to any healthy therapeutic relationship -- and especially their discussions about different types of reflective listening and dealing with resistance. The MI approach is especially helpful in dealing with clients who are struggling with ambivalence about their problems (or about being in therapy) -- which happens with great frequency in any practice (not just with substance abusers or court-ordered clients). I wish I had had this book 30 years ago when I was starting out as a therapist. I love teaching from it because I can still pick out gems even now. MI fits well with all sorts of other psychotherapy techniques, including client-centered, cognitive-behavioral, and strategic/structural.

What a wonderful book. I recently completed an introductory course in Motivational Interviewing and found the book an invaluable companion. My primary theoretical orientation is Reality Therapy but have found Motivaitonal Interviewing to be an easily integrated set of techniques for virtually any counseling style. Most importantly, MI appears to offer a set of techniques that fit well with the limitations often placed on counselors by managed care. I have found through personal experience that once people are motivated to change, progress is relativly fast. It's getting them ready that often presents the challenge; this book meets that challenge head on.

Excellent resourse for the person interested in helping others in a host of different treatment settings. For people in the helping fields, this technique offers new ways of viewing treatment resistance, goal ambivalence, and goal achievement. In utilizing this technique, we enable the client/consumer to be able to formulate plans and goals for themselves in the future, returning them to an increased level of functioning in the community. The adaption of MI in various treatment settings with divergent clients has long been awaited.

As a longtime clinician and trainer of clinicians, I found Miller and Rollnick's "Motivational Interviewing" (2d edition) extremely sound, helpful and thoughtful. A great book for clinicians to read who are tempted to push one side of a patient's ambivalence ("But can't you see you have to leave him -- he's no good for you!")and not to respect the other side of it.

I was pleasantly surprised at the value of this book. I serve on a committee whose mission is to increase the levels of physical activity in our group. I learned some basic and important concepts about what makes change. Let's face it, if change were easy and a rational decision, we would all be healthier, thinner, non-smokers and non-alcohol drinkers. This book is a must for those who are trying to institute real change. This book is of value to those who are tired of doing ineffictive things that make little real change in any arena of life.

The book is written by academics for academics, but I think it is well written for the layperson who is interested in the topic. This is a good book for anyone who is interested in methods for changing behavior.

This is a good book to read and keep. The chapters are easy to read because they are not too long. The information is easy to grasp, apply and retain. I definitely recommend this book.

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is defined as: a client-centered, directive method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to chance by exploring and resolving ambivalence.

Motivational Interviewing, Second Edition: Preparing People for Change is an excellent resource for anyone working with individuals or groups of people who are facing ambivalence regarding change. The change can range from drug/alcohol abuse, quitting smoking, medical issues, losing weight, relationship changes, starting an exercise program, changing careers, etc.

The book begins with a chapter on "Why do people change?" People tend to be creatures of habit and change can be a very difficult and disturbing process to go through. There is also a discussion on whether people are ready, willing and able to change along with issues that trigger change. The book then moves on to the topic of ambivalence and why people have such a difficult time with making changes especially if the changes are beneficial such as in quitting smoking, dealing with addictions, taking necessary medications, etc. Facilitating change is difficult and can be a lengthy process. One often develops discrepancy, deals with self-motivating change talk and dealing with the status quo.

Part II of the book enters the practice of Motivational Interviewing and delves into the four general principles:

1. Express empathy
2. Develop discrepancy
3. Roll with resistance
4. Support self-efficacy

Then there is a discussion on change and resistance which is essentially the consonance and dissonance of change. Interviewing traps are discussed and plenty of examples are provided.

Five specific methods are then reviewed in depth:

1. Ask open ended questions
2. Listen reflectively
3. Affirmations
4. Summarizations
5. Eliciting change talk
Once again plenty of examples are provided.

There are following chapters on responding to change talk, responding to resistance, enhancing confidence to strengthening commitments. There is also a chapter on Motivational Interviewing and the Stages of Change. MI techniques are to be applied differently depending on which Stage of Change a person is in.

Originally, MI was developed for use by counselors but these techniques can be utilized by many other professions. The techniques are very easy to learn but very difficult to apply. Don't be fooled by the apparent simplicity as it does take a lot of practice to become familiar with the spirit and essence of Motivational Interviewing and then have the skill to apply the different techniques. MI is a great skill for police officers, corrections officers, detention officers, probation and parole officers, managers, military investigators, military interrogators, sports coaches and anyone who regularly deals with individuals who have ambivalence.

Motivational Interviewing, Second Edition: Preparing People for Change is an excellent resource that has many practical uses and applications both professionally and personally. Plenty of examples are utilized throughout the book that will guide you along.

Motivational interviewing is all about understanding your audience and helping them help themselves. It is all about speaking in a compelling way that relates to your listeners. While this book is very good at laying the foundations of "Motivational interviewing" in a comprehensive way, it totally misses the mark when it comes to doing what it claims to be teaching. This book is just not friendly. I found it very hard to read through the book and actually learn something practical I could later implement. I would therefore not recommend this book to anyone but true professionals who can deal with an academic style publication. I think it is even better for people with prior background in the field.