Our methods / MI
Motivational interviewing (MI) in virtual IOP
Find your own reasons to change.
Motivational interviewing is a collaborative way of talking about change. Instead of being told what to do, you explore what you want, what holds you back and why change might matter to you.
Evidence-based
Collaborative, not pushy
Covered by most commercial plans
Change talk
“Why might this matter to you?”
Not sure yet
Ready to try
How MI works
Your reasons, your pace.
Feeling two ways about change is normal. MI works with that ambivalence instead of arguing with it.
Your clinician listens for your own words about change, reflects them back and helps you turn them into a plan you believe in.
MI at Thrive
Built into every week.
One-on-one
MI shapes how your therapist talks with you about goals and next steps.
In group
Peers share what change looks like for them, which often sparks your own ideas.
Goal setting
Small, specific goals you choose, reviewed together.
The method
What is motivational interviewing?
Motivational interviewing was developed by psychologists William Miller and Stephen Rollnick in the 1980s and 1990s. It began in addiction treatment and is now used across health care wherever change is hard.
MI starts from the idea that feeling two ways about change is normal. Rather than persuading or lecturing, the clinician helps you explore your own reasons for and against change, and listens closely for the moments you talk about wanting something different.
The spirit of MI is collaboration, acceptance and respect for your choices. It often sets the direction in treatment, while other methods, like CBT or DBT, provide the tools to get there.
It may help if you
Know something needs to change but feel stuck
Feel pressured by others to get help
Have tried to change before and it did not last
Are unsure treatment is worth it
Want to be heard, not told what to do
Want goals that feel like your own
Techniques
How MI works.
Your clinician chooses what fits your goals. These are the ones we use most.
Open questions
Questions that invite you to think, not just answer yes or no.
Affirmations
Recognizing your strengths and efforts, not only problems.
Reflective listening
Hearing your words back, so you can hear yourself clearly.
Summaries
Pulling together what matters to you and where you are headed.
Change talk
Noticing and strengthening your own reasons to change.
Rolling with resistance
No pushing or lecturing, just honest exploration.
What it helps with
Care for what you’re going through.
At Thrive we use it for these conditions, alongside other methods.
Depression
Rebuilding motivation when everything feels flat.
Learn more →
Anxiety disorders
Moving toward what avoidance keeps away.
Learn more →
Mood disorders
Sticking with routines that stabilize mood.
Learn more →
8days
median from referral to first session
90%
session attendance across our programs
3hours
of live care a day, from home
MI questions
MI, answered.
Still wondering if it’s right for you? Our admissions team can talk it through, free. Call (561) 203-6085 or book a free call.
What is motivational interviewing?
MI is an evidence-based, collaborative counseling style that helps people resolve mixed feelings about change and find their own motivation.
Is MI only for substance use?
No. It began there, and is now used for many goals, such as sticking with treatment, building routines or reconnecting with people.
Will my therapist tell me what to do?
No. MI respects your choices. Your clinician helps you explore options and decide what fits.
How is MI used with other therapies?
MI often sets the direction, and skills from CBT or DBT help you get there.
Is MI right for me?
If you feel stuck or unsure about making a change, MI can help. Our admissions team can talk it through with you.
What is change talk?
Change talk is anything you say in favor of change, such as your desire, reasons or ability to do something differently. MI helps you notice and strengthen it.
What are the stages of change?
A common model describes stages from not yet considering change, to thinking about it, preparing, taking action and keeping it up. MI meets you wherever you are.
Is motivational interviewing evidence-based?
Yes. MI has been studied widely across many settings and is used alongside other therapies to support engagement and change.
Is motivational interviewing covered by insurance?
Motivational interviewing is part of our intensive outpatient program, which most commercial plans and TRICARE cover. We check your benefits for free before you start. See the plans we work with.