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Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities Home Page
Evidence-Based Practice Initiatives
Contact Information
275 E. Main Street 4WG
Frankfort, KY 40621
Phone: (502) 564-4456
Fax: (502) 564-9010
Hours: Monday–Friday
8:00 am–4:30 pm ET


Crisis Lines by County
Hotlines/Other Contacts
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Contact Us

Michelle Kilgore
(502) 782-6174

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a person-centered, goal-directed method for engagement and enhancing intrinsic motivation to change behavior by exploring and resolving ambivalence. Resolving ambivalence will increase an individual's engagement in treatment and enhance his or her ability to stay and complete treatment and to sustain the changes.

Motivational Interviewing is not a technique or a set of techniques that is applied to people; rather, it is an interpersonal style, not at all restricted to formal counseling settings.

The clinician practices motivational interviewing with five general principles in mind:

  • Express empathy through reflective listening.
  • Develop discrepancy between clients' goals or values and their current behavior.
  • Avoid argument and direct confrontation.
  • Adjust to client resistance rather than opposing it directly.
  • Support self-efficacy and optimism.

Motivational Interviewing is a complex, advanced skill that requires consistent personal monitoring to remain faithful to the model.

Use the Contact Information to obtain further information.

Unbridled Spirit
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