Motivational Interviewing: Chronic Disease Management

Course overview

Motivational interviewing is a patient-centered counseling method for promoting behavior changes in patients. It can be used in many healthcare settings and other environments to foster improved health practices in challenging situations. By using principles of therapeutic communication, a health professional can act as a coach for patients to help them make better health choices. Motivational interviewing is a collaborative process that edifies patients and encourages them to make responsible decisions with regard to behavioral choices. Motivational interviewing is not necessarily a stand-alone type of therapy, but it can be incorporated into treatments and routine care for patients with various health issues, including physical, mental health. or substance use diagnoses. Motivational interviewing can be used along with other forms of therapy to help improve engagement between a patient and health clinician during treatment sessions. This engagement may help the patient resolve ambivalence when it comes to making decisions about needed healthy lifestyle changes. Fidelity to the process seems to be the distinguishing factor related to the effectiveness of motivational interviewing.