Motivational Interviewing

In Motivational Interviewing, Jennifer Manuel, PhD, demonstrates motivational interviewing (MI), an evidence-based, client-centered approach designed to help individuals explore and strengthen their motivation for behavior change. Through two client sessions, Dr. Manuel works with one client who wants to incorporate exercise more consistently into her life and another who is considering reducing her alcohol consumption. Particularly effective for individuals who feel ambivalent about change, MI focuses on eliciting and reinforcing a client's own motivations, values, and goals through what is known as "change talk."

Guided by the core principles of partnership, acceptance, compassion, and empowerment, Dr. Manuel utilizes key MI skills, including open-ended questions, reflective listening, affirmations, and autonomy-supportive statements, to create a collaborative, nonjudgmental environment where clients can explore their perspectives, resolve ambivalence, and build commitment to meaningful, self-directed change. The video is hosted by Jennifer Frey, PhD, who provides additional context and insights into the principles and practice of motivational interviewing.

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a proven, evidence-based approach that helps individuals build motivation and confidence to make meaningful behavior changes. Originally developed by psychologist William R. Miller in the early 1980s, MI is now widely used across healthcare, behavioral health, education, and criminal justice settings to support positive outcomes such as reducing alcohol use, quitting smoking, and improving overall well-being.

At its core, Motivational interviewing is a collaborative, client-centered method that empowers individuals to explore their own reasons for change. Rather than directing or persuading, practitioners use a set of specialized communication skills, including open-ended questions, reflective listening, affirmations, and autonomy-supportive statements, to guide productive conversations.

These skills are grounded in the "spirit" of MI, a framework built on four foundational principles:

• Partnership: Working collaboratively with clients as equal partners
• Acceptance: Respecting each individual's experiences, strengths, and autonomy
• Compassion: Prioritizing the client's needs and well-being
• Empowerment: Supporting clients in recognizing their own capacity for change

Motivational interviewing is especially effective for individuals who feel uncertain or ambivalent about changing a behavior. By eliciting and reinforcing a person's own motivations, values, and goals, MI encourages what is known as "change talk": the client's own language in favor of positive change. Through thoughtful questioning, reflective listening, and affirmations, practitioners create a supportive environment where clients can explore challenges, resolve ambivalence, and strengthen their commitment to lasting, self-directed change.

Jennifer K. Manuel, PhD is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco and the chief of psychology at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs. She has over 20 years of experience training front-line clinical staff in motivational interviewing. Dr. Manuel has conducted MI training and coding workshops throughout the world. She coauthored multiple MI behavioral coding systems including the widely used Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI) coding manual. Dr. Manuel's research expertise is in the implementation and evaluation of MI in medical and mental health settings. 

APA Videos

Motivational Interviewing Deliberate Practice
Jennifer K. Manuel, PhD

Drug and Alcohol Abuse
William R. Miller, PhD

Assessing Alcohol Problems Using Motivational Interviewing
Linda Carter Sobell, PhD, ABPP, and Mark Sobell, PhD, ABPP

Functional Analysis and Behavioral Activation for Substance Use
Carl Lejuez, PhD

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Steven C. Hayes, PhD

Mindfulness for Addiction Problems
G. Alan Marlatt, PhD

APA Books

Deliberate Practice in Motivational Interviewing
Jennifer Knapp Manuel, Denise Ernst, Alexadre Vaz, and Tony Rousmaniere

Common Factors Therapy: A Principle-Based Treatment Framework
Russell J. Baily and Benjamin M. Ogles

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Steven C. Hayes and Jason Lillis

Behavioral Interventions in Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Practical Guidance for Putting Theory Into Action, Third Edition
Richard F. Farmer and Alexander L. Chapman

Integrated Behavioral Health in Primary Care Step-by-Step Guidance for Assessment and Intervention, Third Edition
Christopher L. Hunter, Jeffrey L. Goodie, Mark S. Oordt, and Anne C. Dobmeyer

Trauma and Substance Abuse Causes, Consequences, and Treatment of Comorbid Disorders, Second Edition
Jennifer P. Read

Other Suggested Resources

Frey, J., & Hall, J. Motivational interviewing for mental health clinicians: A Toolkit for Skills Enhancement. (2021). PESI Publishing. 

Miller, W.R. (2023). The evolution of motivational interviewing. Behavioral Cognitive Psychotherapy, 51(6), 616-632.

Miller, W.R. & Moyers, T.B. (2021). Effective psychotherapists: Clinical skills that improve client outcomes. Guilford Press. 

Miller, W.R. & Rollnick, S. Motivational interviewing (4th edition). (2023). Guilford Press. 

Rosengren, D.B., Johnston, L.H., Hilton, C.E. Experiencing motivational interviewing from the inside out: A self-practice/self-reflection workbook for practitioners. Guilford Press.