ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the conflicting motivations and pressures; the change feels too big, the rewards too distant, the personal or financial costs too high, or maybe it was never our idea to change in the first place. Motivational interviewing (MI) is an approach that seeks to explore ambivalence and activate motivation for change. Rollnick and colleagues describe three communication styles: ‘directing’, ‘following’ and ‘guiding’. All of these styles have their place within helping relationships. MI has been gaining ground in adult health services since the early 1980s, starting in addictions and then developing in the physical health specialties, particularly in relation to chronic health conditions. The number of studies of MI in paediatric settings being published has appeared to stall in recent years. One approach has been to integrate MI principles within a ‘personal trainer’ model, using a non-clinical practitioner to deliver a six-session intervention with teenagers.
