Motivational interviewing in the workplace

(from the chapter) Motivational interviewing (MI), a powerful style of brief counseling that assists clients in resolving ambivalence about potential behavior changes, is defined and discussed in this chapter. Topics include the components of brief interventions and their relationship to MI, phases of MI, MI and stages of change, empirical support for the effectiveness of MI, and the use of MI in workplace counseling. Although empirical support for the use of MI in an Employee Assistance Program has yet to be demonstrated, MI may be an effective counseling style in the workplace setting, particularly in short-term circumstances and in situations in which occupational ambivalence is present. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) (chapter)