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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Virtual Agent for Real-Time Motivational Interviewing by Integrating Adaptive Nonverbal Behavior and Language Models
Published on: December 23, 2025
Therapist adherence to a motivational-interviewing intervention improves treatment entry for substance-misusing
Douglas C Smith1, James A Hall, Mijin Jang
1School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1207 West Oregon Street, M/C140, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA. smithdc@illinois.edu
Objective:
This study evaluated whether adherence to the Strengths-Oriented Referral for Teens (SORT) model, a motivational interviewing (MI)-consistent intervention addressing ambivalence about attending treatment, positively predicted adolescents' initial-session attendance.
Method:
Therapist adherence was rated in 54 audiotaped SORT sessions by coders who were blind to treatment-entry status. Higher adherence scores reflected greater use of MI and solution focused language, discussion of client strengths, and dialogue with families on treatment need and options.
Results:
Therapist adherence during adolescent segments interacted with adolescent problem perception. Predicted probabilities of attending initial sessions increased for low-problem-perception adolescents at increasingly higher therapist adherence.
Conclusions:
Although replication studies are needed, the SORT model of providing MI-consistent debriefing following initial assessments appears to be a promising approach for increasing treatment entry. Initial support for the treatment-matching hypothesis was found for substance-misusing adolescents contemplating treatment entry.
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