Equipoise and Equanimity in Motivational Interviewing

Abstract

The spirit of MI bespeaks a kind of equanimity as a general characteristic of MI practice. This desirable counselor quality is quite distinct from the conscious choice of counselor aspiration: whether to strategically move toward a particular change target, or to intentionally maintain neutrality withregard to change goal (the latter being referred to as equipoise). Both choices would involve equanimity, and both require intentional, conscious and skillful attention to the interpersonal dynamics of change talk that have been elucidated through the development of and research on MI.