Motivational Interviewing: Ethical Considerations

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a goal-directed, client-centered counseling style developed by W.R. Miller and S. Rollnick. It aims at eliciting intrinsic motivation for behavioural change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. Ethical concerns arise when therapists do not honor patient autonomy (e.g. by imposing their own opinions as to what is in the person's best interest). In respect to the spirit ("Menschenbild") of MI a lack of clarity as to what components have to be included and which superordinate theory it is derived from are noticed. Finally it is criticized that patient autonomy is not well incorporated and respected in the process of goal setting (phase 2 of MI).