What is motivational interviewing, in simple terms?

This article is for certified Prime For Life instructors.

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a collaborative style of conversation that strengthens a person's own motivation to change, rather than telling them what to do. It is person-centered: the conversation is built around the individual's own goals and values, not the practitioner's.

Prime For Life builds MI skills into its instructor training and its participant workbooks, so instructors use the approach throughout the program.