ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the purpose and value of motivational interviewing (MI) as a pretreatment to cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and examines research findings related to the impact of adding MI as a precursor to CBT on client outcomes. CBT treatments assume that clients are ready to engage in therapeutic conversation and activities. Assessing readiness to change is an essential component of therapy. Similar to addressing the client’s motivation for change, the client’s readiness to engage in CBT treatment is received by the counselor with acceptance and without argumentation. The connections between treatment and change are made after Charlie expresses some remaining ambivalence about treatment; however, this conversation could be a routine part of the MI sessions that precede CBT, even without the client expressing ambivalence. Although there are some mixed findings, overall there is strong evidence to support using MI as a prelude to CBT treatment.
