Motivational Interviewing has its origins in working with people wanting to change an addictive behaviour.

 

However its principles have much wider ramifications for all sorts of health focused change.

 

A single session can be useful in clarifying the pros and cons of a particular existing or desired behaviour. This includes decreasing or stopping use of a drug (including alcohol, nicotine, marijuana and cocaine).

 

MI has wider implications for sexual addiction,r gambling problems or reducing weight. It also is useful in developing a healthier lifestyle or exercise program.

 

AHA CM0408247 AASW 194017

Motivational Interviewing

Robert is a practitoner of Motivational Interviewing, a brief intervention which is helpful to people who have felt stuck with a problem or lacked the capacity to take the next step in a change process .

Generally conducted over two or three  sessions motivational interviewing helps people come to greater self understanding and compassion in preparation for either immediate or future change.

Motivational Counselling was developed by Professor William Miller and Professor Steve Rollnick. It has evolved over many years and began when Miller was probed by Norwegian colleagues about his experience of denial in working with people with alcohol problems. Miller indicated he had not experienced it. Clearly this related to Bill's style in working with clients.

Here is a video of Professor William Miller discussing and demonstrating motivational interviewing

Subsequent sessions with Steve resulted in the publication of their volume of "Motivational Interviewing" which is now in its second edition.

Originally targeted at people wondering about change ( contemplators) the style has broader implications for counsellors wishing to be effective in working with their clients..  Robert has trained other health professionals in the method conducting workshops through a number of Victorian universities and also training undergraduate and graduate students.