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Consortium for Crime and Justice Research
Juvenile Justice Institute

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a method of communication that has been shown to engage, retain and motivate clients toward making positive behavioral changes. MI is currently being used in treating a variety of clients such as those with substance abuse disorders, mental health disorders, medical issues and those in the corrections and social services systems. MI is especially helpful with angry clients and those who are not yet ready to make changes. It can be integrated into existing programs and helps prepare clients for more action-oriented treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and twelve-step facilitation.