Which of the following is NOT a principle of Motivational Interviewing?

In the context of Motivational Interviewing (MI), the principles are designed to facilitate a collaborative conversation about change. The principles include engaging, evoking, and planning, which are foundational to fostering a supportive environment for clients.

Engaging refers to establishing a trusting and respectful relationship between the client and the coach, which is essential for effective communication. Evoking involves eliciting the client’s own motivations for change, tapping into their intrinsic reasons and desires to foster personal commitment. Planning encompasses developing actionable steps and strategies to implement the desired changes, ensuring that the client feels empowered to move forward.

However, confronting does not align with the principles of Motivational Interviewing. In MI, the approach is to avoid confrontation and instead focus on collaboration. Confronting may create resistance or defensiveness, which is counterproductive to the goals of MI, where the emphasis is on understanding and supporting the individual’s autonomy in the change process. By utilizing strategies like reflective listening and open-ended questions instead, practitioners can help clients articulate their thoughts and feelings regarding change without feeling confronted. Thus, the correct answer reflects that confronting is not a principle of Motivational Interviewing.