Motivational Interviewing (MI): Core Concepts Handout
What is Motivational Interviewing (MI)?
Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, person-centred approach to supporting behaviour
change by helping people explore and strengthen their own motivation. MI is especially useful
when individuals feel ambivalent, unsure, or stuck.
The Spirit of Motivational Interviewing
The Spirit of MI is the foundation that guides how MI skills are used. Without the spirit, MI
becomes a technique rather than a relational approach.
1. Partnership
MI is done with people, not to them
Worker and client are collaborators
Power is shared rather than hierarchical
2. Acceptance
Includes four key elements:
Absolute worth – Every person has inherent value
Accurate empathy – Deep, non-judgmental understanding
Autonomy support – The client chooses; change cannot be forced
Affirmation – Recognizing strengths and efforts
3. Compassion
Acting in the client’s best interests
Prioritizing well-being over control or compliance
Especially important in trauma-informed and anti-oppressive practice
4. Evocation
Change talk already exists within the person
The worker’s role is to draw it out, not put it in
Clients are the experts on their own lives
The Four Basic Skills of MI: OARS
O – Open-Ended Questions
Encourage reflection and deeper responses
Cannot be answered with “yes” or “no”
Invite exploration of values, goals, and concerns
Examples:
“What concerns you most about this right now?”
“How does this fit with what you want for your life?”
A – Affirmations
Recognize strengths, efforts, and values
Build confidence and self-efficacy
Must be genuine and specific
Examples:
“You’ve shown a lot of persistence in getting through this.”
“It took courage to talk about that.”
R – Reflective Listening
Demonstrates understanding and deepens insight
Repeats or paraphrases meaning
Can reflect feelings, values, or underlying meaning
Examples:
“It sounds like you’re torn between wanting change and feeling unsure.”
“You’re feeling exhausted, but part of you still hopes things can improve.”
S – Summaries
Pull together key points from the conversation
Show listening and understanding
Help transition or reinforce change talk
Examples:
“Let me check if I’m understanding…”
“So far, we’ve talked about…”
The Processes of Motivational Interviewing
MI unfolds through four overlapping processes, not rigid steps.
1. Engaging
Goal: Build a trusting, respectful relationship
Establish rapport
Create psychological safety
Address resistance or disengagement early
Key question:
“Are we working well together?”
2. Focusing
Goal: Clarify direction for change
Identify what the client wants to work on
Avoid imposing agendas
Narrow the conversation when needed
Key question:
“What change are we talking about?”
3. Evoking
Goal: Strengthen the client’s motivation for change
Elicit change talk (desire, ability, reasons, need)
Explore ambivalence
Reflect and reinforce client-generated motivation
Key question:
“Why might this change matter to you?”
4. Planning
Goal: Support commitment and next steps
Only occurs when the client is ready
Develop a realistic, client-driven plan
Strengthen confidence and follow-through
Key question:
“What’s the next step you’d like to take?”
Key Reminders for Practice
MI is not about persuasion, advice-giving, or confrontation
Resistance is a signal to change strategies, not push harder
Skills (OARS) are effective only when grounded in the Spirit of MI
MI aligns well with trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and strengths-based practice