Mindfulness and Motivational Interviewing

Mindfulness

Mindfulness helps individuals accept and tolerate powerful emotions felt when challenging their habits or exposing themselves to upsetting situations. The concept of mindfulness and the involved meditative exercises are derived from traditional Buddhist practice, though not necessarily with religious or metaphysical concepts. Mindfulness includes the capacity to pay attention non-judgmentally to the present moment, to live in the moment, to experience one’s emotions and senses fully, yet with perspective.

Motivational interviewing (MI)

Motivational interviewing (MI) evokes intrinsic motivation to change and commitment towards the desired goal by helping people to resolve any feelings of ambivalence. Psychologists using MI have an openness to collaboration with clients’ own expertise, proficiency in client-centred counselling, including accurate empathy, are attuned to recognising key aspects of client speech that guide the practice of MI, elicit and strengthen client change talk, roll with resistance, negotiate change plans, consolidate client commitment, and also switch flexibly between MI and other intervention styles.