Motivational Interviewing in the Treatment of Psychological Problems

Since the publication of Miller and Rollnick's classic Motivational Interviewing, MI has become hugely popular as a tool for facilitating many different kinds of positive behavior change. MI is increasingly being used to help individuals mobilize their energy, commitment, and personal resources for addressing a wide range of mental health concerns. This cutting-edge book brings together leading experts to describe MI applications in the treatment of anxiety, depression, PTSD, suicidal behavior, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, gambling addictions, schizophrenia, and dual diagnoses. Also addressed are MI approaches in the criminal justice system. Each chapter provides a concise overview of the disorder or population under discussion; describes how MI has been integrated with standard treatment approaches; illustrates the nuts and bolts of intervention, using vivid clinical examples; and reviews the empirical evidence base.

This book is in the Applications of Motivational Interviewing series.

Hal Arkowitz, PhD, is Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Arizona. His main interests are in understanding how people change and why they don’t. Dr. Arkowitz has published widely in the areas of anxiety, depression, psychotherapy, and psychotherapy integration. Along with Scott O. Lilienfeld, he is a co-columnist for the magazine Scientific American Mind. A past Editor of the Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, he maintains an active clinical practice.

Henny A. Westra, PhD, is Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Director of the Anxiety Research Clinic at York University in Toronto. Prior to this, she was the Clinical Director of the Anxiety and Affective Disorders Service at the London Health Sciences Centre. Dr. Westra has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, as well as given over 100 presentations and workshops, on the treatment of anxiety. She has received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for her research on motivational interviewing, expectations for change, and engagement with treatment.

William R. Miller, PhD, is Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico. With over 400 publications, including 35 books, Dr. Miller introduced the concept of motivational interviewing in a 1983 article. He was named by the Institute for Scientific Information as one of the world's most cited scientists.

Stephen Rollnick, PhD, is Honorary Distinguished Professor at the Cochrane Institute of Primary Care and Public Health at Cardiff University, United Kingdom. A clinical psychologist with many years of experience and a codeveloper of MI, he provides consultancy and training on the subjects of motivation, change, and MI. His research and guidelines for good practice have been widely published, and his work on implementation continues, with a current focus on children with HIV/AIDS in Africa, pregnant teens in deprived communities, and MI for schoolteachers and sports coaches.