River Oak Center for Children: Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing is a therapeutic style intended to help River Oak’s clinical team
members work with children and teens who are uncertain of or are fighting change. The
technique is an effective way for staff to help kids develop a commitment to changing
problematic behaviors.

Motivational interviewing is based on five core principles:

1. Express empathy through reflective listening.
2. Develop discrepancy between child or teen’s goals or values and their current behavior.
3. Avoid argument and direct confrontation.
4. Adjust to client resistance rather than opposing it directly.
5. Support self-efficacy and optimism.

Through this process, children and teens discover their own reasons for needing and wanting
to change. Kids are involved as integral partners in formulating how change will occur and, as
such, are placed in a position of personal responsibility for making the appropriate choices
that best suit their needs.