Abstract

The paper presents the background to the development of motivational interviewing and its role in empowering patients to change their behaviour. It describes the phases of the motivational cycle and the importance of adjusting the type of intervention to the patient’s phase of the motivational cycle. It summarizes the basic characteristics of the therapeutic relationship in which a change in behaviour will be more likely to happen and the principles of the motivational interview as a counselling tool.

Key words: motivational interviewing, counselling, behavioural change, empathy.