Motivational Interviewing & Mindfulness

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a goal-oriented, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. The examination and resolution of ambivalence is a central purpose, and the psychotherapist is intentionally directive in pursuing this goal. Motivational Interviewing is non-judgmental, non-confrontational and non-adversarial. The approach attempts to increase the client’s awareness of the potential problems caused, consequences experienced, and risks faced as a result of the behavior in question. Warmth, genuine empathy, and acceptance are part of Motivational Interviewing.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the intentional, accepting and non-judgemental focus of one’s attention on the emotions, thoughts and sensations occurring in the present moment, which can be trained by meditational practices that are described in detail in the Buddhist tradition.Mindfulness is an attribute of consciousness long believed to promote well-being. Large population-based surveys have indicated that the construct of mindfulness is strongly correlated with well-being and perceived health. Studies have also shown that rumination and worry contribute to mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, and mindfulness-based interventions are effective in the reduction of both rumination and worry. Clinical psychology and psychiatry since the 1970s have developed a number of therapeutic applications based on mindfulness for helping people who are experiencing a variety of psychological conditions. Mindfulness practice is being employed in psychology to alleviate a variety of mental and physical conditions, such as bringing about reductions in depression symptoms, reducing stress, anxiety, and in the treatment of depression. It has gained worldwide popularity as a distinctive method to handle emotions. Clinical studies have documented the physical and mental health benefits of mindfulness.