Introduction to the Special Issue on Exploring the Versatility of Motivational Interviewing.

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Early treatment motivation significantly impacts patient outcomes.
• Motivational interviewing (MI) effectively addresses patient ambivalence towards change.
• MI has shown success in improving treatment results across diverse populations and settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the application of MI with populations at high risk for therapeutic ambivalence.
• To highlight the adaptability and limitations of MI-based interventions.
• To inform future adaptations of MI, including digital and web-based interventions.

Main Methods:

• Review of studies applying MI to specific high-risk groups.
• Exploration of MI's adaptation into brief interventions.
• Discussion of MI's versatility and limitations in various therapeutic contexts.

Main Results:

• MI demonstrates effectiveness in managing ambivalence across various treatment scenarios.
• Successful adaptation of MI into brief intervention formats.
• MI shows promise for use with college students, trafficked individuals, and in exposure therapy.

Conclusions:

• MI is a versatile intervention for addressing ambivalence and improving treatment outcomes.
• Further research is needed to adapt MI for digital and web-based platforms.
• Understanding MI's limitations is crucial for its effective future application.