Motivational Interviewing, Nonadherence to Medical Treatment, and Families

Abstract

Counselors and other clinicians are increasingly faced with treatment adherence issues particularly when counselling individuals and families dealing with medical conditions. Since motivational interviewing has proven to be effective in increasing patient motivation to change and in reducing nonadherence, it has become a valuable and necessary counseling intervention. The article describes motivational interviewing and its application as an adjunctive intervention with patients and their families who are dealing with medical conditions when treatment adherence is a concern. It illustrates this application with a clinical illustration. © 2012, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.