Motivational Interviewing with Families

by Smith, Douglas C.

• ISBN13: 9781462557615
• ISBN10: 1462557619
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2025-06-20
• Publisher: The Guilford Press

Summary

While motivational interviewing (MI) was developed as a counseling approach for individuals, it also has tremendous utility for helping families change and grow. This book offers the first comprehensive guide to adapting MI skills to engage families--including reluctant members--in therapy and mobilize family-level change processes. Extensive annotated sample dialogues show how MI can be integrated with any therapy approach for families struggling with mental health problems, addictions, relationship challenges, difficult life transitions, or other concerns. Special features include boxed sidebars, reflection questions, and practice exercises. The Appendix and companion website provide links to additional helpful resources for using MI with families.

This book is in the Applications of Motivational Interviewing series, edited by Stephen Rollnick, William R. Miller, and Theresa B. Moyers.

Author Biography

Douglas C. Smith, PhD, LCSW, is Professor of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and co-chair of MINT's Professional Development Committee. Dr. Smith is a recipient of the Deborah K. Padgett Early Career Achievement Award from the Society for Social Work and Research. His research and publications focus on motivational interviewing and on developing and testing substance use interventions--including family therapies--for adolescents and emerging adults.  

Table of Contents

Preface
I. The Basics
1. Introduction
2. Overview of Motivational Interviewing
3. The Spirit of Motivational Interviewing
4. ROARS Skills
5. Working with Ambivalence
II. Using Motivational Interviewing with Families
6. Moving toward Integration of Motivational Interviewing and Family Work
7. Advanced Issues in Using ROARS with Families
8. Change Talk among Families
9. Engaging Families with Motivational Interviewing
10. Focusing, Evoking, and Planning in Family Work
11. Motivational Sendoffs
III. Family-Centered Motivational Interviewing Research
12. Families Raising and Launching Children, with Alex Lee
13. Families with Established and Older Adults
Appendix. Select Resources for Integrating MI in Family Work
References
Index