What is motivational interviewing and how is it used in case management?

• A. A rigid directive approach that imposes behavior change without patient input.
• B. A collaborative counseling style using open-ended questions, reflective listening, and affirmations to elicit behavior change.
• C. A therapy technique focused exclusively on medication adjustment.
• D. A data collection method using standardized questionnaires.

Answer: (B)

Motivational interviewing is a collaborative, client-centered counseling style that uses open-ended questions, reflective listening, and affirmations to elicit and strengthen a person’s own motivation for change. In case management, this approach helps clients explore ambivalence, articulate their values and goals, and develop their own steps toward healthier behaviors or better service utilization. Open-ended questions invite discussion about what matters to the client and what changes would be meaningful; reflective listening shows empathy and helps the client hear and resolve conflicting feelings; affirmations bolster self-efficacy and highlight strengths that can support change. This style avoids confrontation and respects autonomy, making it easier to engage clients in planning and sustaining progress.

The other options don’t fit as well. A rigid directive approach imposes change without client input and can increase resistance. Focusing exclusively on medication adjustment narrows the work to pharmacotherapy, not behavior change. Treating it as a data collection method centers on gathering information rather than facilitating the client’s motivation and behavior change.