Which of the following is a primary intervention in Motivational Interviewing?

• A. Eliciting Self-Motivational Statements
• B. Imposing a Change Plan Without Client Input
• C. Confronting the Client with Reasons to Change
• D. Teaching Cognitive Restructuring

Answer: (A)

Motivational Interviewing centers on eliciting the client’s own reasons for change, focusing on making change come from the person rather than from outside direction. The primary intervention is drawing out self-motivational statements—often called change talk—where the client expresses desires, abilities, reasons, needs, and commitment for change. This approach uses open-ended questions, reflective listening, affirmations, and summaries to amplify the client’s language about change and to help resolve ambivalence in a collaborative, nonjudgmental way.

Why the other options don’t fit: imposing a change plan without client input is a directive move that undermines autonomy and undermines MI’s collaborative spirit. Confronting the client with reasons to change tends to trigger resistance and defensiveness, which MI explicitly seeks to avoid. Teaching cognitive restructuring aligns more with cognitive-behavioral approaches than with Motivational Interviewing, which centers on eliciting the client’s own motivation rather than restructuring thoughts.