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                                    Topics In Corrections
                                    Motivational Interviewing

      

                    
          
    Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing (M.I.) arose during the 1980s from alcohol counseling research. This research began to suggest that certain types of brief counseling interactions could be as effective as more lengthy interventions and that a certain kind of provider style was better at eliciting change.

M.I. is a person-centered communication method of fostering change by helping a person explore and resolve ambivalence. Rather than using external pressure, MI looks for ways to access internal motivation for change. It borrows from client-centered counseling in its emphasis on empathy, optimism, and respect for client choice. M.I. also draws from self-perception theory, which says that a person becomes more or less committed to an action based on the verbal stance he or she takes. Thus, an offender who talks about the benefits of change is more likely to make that change, whereas an offender who argues and defends the status quo is more likely to continue his or her present behavior.

    Resource Links
          NIC Project Page: Evidence-based Practices Resources
          Motivational Interviewing in Corrections-National Institute of Corrections-DC Public Safety Radio
          Motivational Interviewing Fidelity in a Community Corrections Setting: Treatment Initiation and Subsequent Drug Use
          The Motivational Interviewing Website
          The Effective Physician: Motivational Approach (YoutTube)
          The Ineffective Physician: Motivational Approach (YouTube)
                   NIC Resources
          Exercises for Developing MI Skills in Corrections
          Motivational Interviewing in Corrections: A Comprehensive Guide to Implementing MI in Corrections
          Motivational Interviewing (with a Criminal Justice Focus) Annotated Bibliography
          Motivating Offenders to Change: A Guide for Probation and Parole

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