Motivational Interviewing: A Qualitative Examination of Factors Impacting Adoption and Implementation in a Community-Wide Setting

Motivational interviewing (MI) training frequently results in only minimal improvement in the proficiency of MI techniques. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine factors influencing the adoption of MI across various substance abuse treatment settings. Twenty practitioners and administrators were interviewed using a semistructured interview focused on participants' experiences and attitudes toward MI. Content analysis revealed themes similar to the current literature such as the evidence-based practice's fit with counselor orientation and the need for ongoing training and supervision. Recommendations include consideration of MI for use by paraprofessional staff and a comparison of the program's mission and philosophy to the spirit and principles of MI.