What is Motivational Interviewing (MI), and how can it help me?

Motivational Interviewing is a type of therapy that’s all about helping you make the changes you want to make—on your own terms. If part of you wants to change something (like drinking less, eating better, setting boundaries, or taking care of your health), but another part of you isn’t sure or feels stuck, MI helps you work through that inner tug-of-war.

It’s not about the therapist telling you what to do—it’s about the therapist supporting you in figuring out what you want, what’s getting in the way, and how to move forward in a way that feels right for you.

What does a session look like?

In a session, your therapist might:

• Ask open, curious questions to help you talk through mixed feelings about change (this is called exploring ambivalence).

• Reflect back what you’re saying to help you hear your own motivations more clearly.

• Help you spot the gap between how things are now and how you’d like them to be in the future (this is called highlighting discrepancy).

• Use simple tools like scaling questions (e.g., “How ready are you to change this on a scale of 1 to 10?”) to help you check in with yourself.

• Gently guide you toward your own reasons for change, rather than pushing or pressuring.

How does it help?

Motivational Interviewing can help you:

• Clarify what really matters to you

• Feel more confident and in control of the changes you want to make

• Understand what’s holding you back—without judgment

• Build momentum toward positive changes at your own pace

• Feel supported and heard, not criticized

MI is a great fit if you’re feeling stuck, unsure, or overwhelmed by the idea of change. It helps you find your own reasons and motivation for taking steps toward a better version of your life—not because someone else says you should, but because it feels right for you.