Positive Motivational Interviewing: Activating Clients’ Strengths and Intrinsic Motivation to Change

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a widely disseminated, scientifically-tested method of psychotherapy, which combines a supportive, collaborative and empathic counselling style with a consciously directive method as a means to positively resolve tension created by unresolved ambivalence about change. This article outlines MI as a positive approach to psychotherapy and considers some of its core concepts: the client-centered attitudes and its links with positive psychology interventions (PPIs). The objective of this article is to present MI in the light of positive psychology (PP) in order to build bridges between the two and to gain a better understanding of the processes involved in positive behavior change with both MI and PPIs. The review of the literature shows the strong links that exist between PP and MI: they have much to offer each other. MI is a strength-focused approach that builds on client’s resources and skills and is an important example of how client-centered approaches to psychotherapy operate their effects. MI has a theoretical and practical flexibility and is a well proven approach for increasing intrinsic motivation to change. PPIs could be used combined with MI, in order to increase adherence to psychotherapy, as the PPIs, often delivered in self-help format, request effort and motivation. Integrating MI with the PPIs could also produce synergistic effects and lead thus to better outcomes. We propose several examples of how MI can be integrated with other forms of PPIs. Finally, implications for clinical practice and further research are discussed.