A Motivational Interview Approach for Secondary Staff and Students

Using a Motivational Interview Approach to maintain emotional well-being and ensure positive change.

Teaching Tools - A Motivational Interview Approach for Secondary Staff and Students is part of the Teaching Tools series which aims to equip staff and students with the knowledge and understanding they need to effectively and safely use these potentially beneficial techniques with young people.

This programme introduces and teaches the key elements and skills of a Motivational Interview Approach. Students are taught that by changing thought processes they can have a significant effect in altering behaviours.

Motivational Interviewing (MI) was originally developed by Miller and Rollnick (1991, 2002) and was defined as a person-centred, directive method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence. Unlike non-directive counselling, this approach has been described as more focused and goal-directed. The examination and resolution of ambivalence is the key purpose and the facilitator adopting this approach will therefore be intentionally directive in pursuing this goal.

Motivational Interviewing is a counselling technique originally developed within medical settings in order to support individuals with addiction problems. It is a powerful tool for use with young people who may not always wish to change their behaviours or have strong reasons why they wish to maintain certain behaviours. A central premise was that people are not always ready to change their patterns of behaviour and the approach does not presume or assume that people actually want to change particular aspects of their behaviour. Behaviour change is, in effect, reliant upon the individual’s motivation.

Change is motivated by a perceived discrepancy between present beliefs and important personal goals or values. Overall, it is the student who is responsible for choosing and carrying out the change.

About the Author

Tina Rae is a Senior Educational Psychologist (Behaviour) who has written extensively on topics such as emotional literacy, behaviour management, PSHE and Citizenship.

Elizabeth Smith is currently the Assistant Manager of Hillingdon Behaviour Support Team, working cross-phase in schools throughout the borough. She began teaching in 1991 in Holland Park Comprehensive, London and remained in mainstream education for eight years before moving to a secondary pupil referral unit for three years.