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Motivational interviewing: what is it and can it help initiate behaviour change?
Conversations that draw out patients’ own reasons to quit smoking, lose weight or make a change

Conversations that draw out patients’ own reasons to quit smoking, lose weight or make a change
- Motivational interviewing involves guiding conversations in such a way that an individual finds their own reasons to change health behaviours
- Rather than promoting a health ideal, it clarifies the person’s own motivations for change and promotes autonomy in decision-making
- Tips on what to say, what not to say and how to respond to a client or patient’s ‘change talk’
When Jan Procter-King first heard about motivational interviewing, it came as a revelation to her.
Having spent many years as a practice nurse, she wanted to help people make healthy choices – the problem was, no matter how hard she tried, too often it simply wasn’t
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