Motivational Interviewing is Compassion in Action

Compassion is one of the four elements of the spirit of Motivational Interviewing (Spirit of MI = compassion, partnership, acceptance and empowerment).

The “spirit” of Motivational Interviewing is the attitude, mindset or heartset of the provider. It begins with YOU and how you show up in the helping relationship. Motivational Interviewing is not Motivational Interviewing without the spirit!

Today I’m going to do a little dip into what exactly the compassion spirit element means in Motivational Interviewing!

The Motivational Interviewing book by Miller & Rollnick defines the compassion spirit element as, “a benevolent intention toward a person’s wellbeing” (p.324).

Compassion is not sympathy, or feeling sorry for someone. Compassion requires empathy, positive regard, and a positive intention to support the best interest of the client.

Compassion means doing our own work as providers to check our biases and desires for the client, while also maintaining hope and optimism. Compassion means continually re-grounding into supporting our client’s autonomy and wellbeing. We are invited to remind ourselves, “I may not know what is in the best interest of my client,” and check in with the client to partner on what they want to change.

Without the spirit element of compassion, Motivational Interviewing could be manipulative. And Motivational Interviewing is not manipulative! It’s not about getting people to do what we want them to do!

Other descriptors of compassion in Miller & Rollnick’s Motivational Interviewing book include, “a commitment to benevolence, an intention to give top priority to the health and well-being of the one you are serving. It is a commitment to benevolence, an intent to alleviate suffering and support positive growth” (p.8).

Motivational Interviewing Tip of the Week:

Motivational Interviewing begins with the spirit elements of Motivational Interviewing. Compassion means approaching our clients with a curiosity about the growth and change they want to make. In what ways are you supporting the health & wellbeing of your clients? What might be getting in the way? A question for you from the Motivational Interviewing book: “What does it take to be genuinely present during Motivational Interviewing, creating a safe space for someone to wonder aloud how things might be different?” (p38).

Watch my full video here!