Motivational interviewing is best described as a style of counseling that

• A. challenges clients to face their issues of denial
• B. explores ways to increase self-acceptance
• C. inspires neutral or reluctant clients to change
• D. focuses on unhelpful thought patterns

Answer: (C)

Motivational interviewing centers on guiding a person who is ambivalent or hesitant toward change in a collaborative, nonjudgmental way. The aim is to evoke the client’s own reasons for change and strengthen their commitment by exploring mixed feelings and eliciting change talk. This approach uses empathy, reflective listening, open-ended questions, and summaries to help the client articulate discrepancies between their current behavior and their values, which naturally increases intrinsic motivation to change. It’s especially effective with neutral or reluctant clients precisely because it avoids confrontation or pressure and instead reinforces autonomy. In contrast, methods that challenge denial directly, focus mainly on changing unhelpful thought patterns, or push for self-acceptance without addressing motivation to change don’t capture what Motivational Interviewing seeks to do.