Motivational Interviewing Questions PDF: A Practical Guide for Counselors and Coaches
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, client-centered counseling approach that helps people work through ambivalence and build genuine motivation for change. Originally developed for substance use treatment, MI is now applied across mental health, healthcare, and coaching. It is especially effective in addiction recovery, where individuals often feel both the desire to move forward and the pull to stay the same.
If you’re looking for a Motivational Interviewing Questions PDF, this guide provides not only a ready-to-use collection of questions but also the clinical context for applying them within the broader scope of therapy.
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How MI Fits Into the Stages of Change
MI questions are most effective when aligned with the Transtheoretical Model of Change (Prochaska & DiClemente). Clients move through predictable stages:
Pre-contemplation: Not considering change.
Contemplation: Ambivalent, weighing pros and cons.
Preparation: Getting ready to act.
Action: Actively making changes.
Maintenance: Sustaining change and preventing relapse.
This blog’s question set is organized around those stages, making it easy to apply in real-world counseling, whether for addiction, health behavior change, or mental health goals.
Beyond Questions: Core MI Skills
While questions are central, MI is more than just asking—it’s about how you respond. Therapists and coaches should integrate these complementary skills:
Affirmations – Recognize strengths and values.
“You’ve shown a lot of courage by just talking about this.”
“It sounds like your health really matters to you.”
Reflective Listening – Mirror back what the client is saying to show understanding.
“You’re frustrated with how things are, but nervous about change.”
“Part of you wants things to improve, and part of you isn’t sure how.”
Summarizing – Pull together the client’s own reasons for change.
“So far you’ve said you want better health, stronger relationships, and more stability—that sounds important to you.”
Confidence & Importance Rulers – Use scaling questions (1–10) and follow-ups.
“Why a 5 and not a 3?”
“What would it take to move you from a 6 to a 7?”
Change Talk vs. Sustain Talk
MI is designed to evoke change talk—statements leaning toward making a change—while reducing sustain talk, which supports staying the same.
Change Talk Examples:
“I don’t want to keep living like this.”
“I know I’d feel better if I cut back.”
Sustain Talk Examples:
“I don’t think my use is that bad.”
“I’ve tried before, and it didn’t work.”
The goal of using MI questions is to gently shift the balance toward change talk without pushing or persuading.
Motivational Interviewing Questions (PDF-Ready Collection)
Below is a practical set of Motivational Interviewing (MI) questions, organized by stage of change. These prompts are designed to encourage reflection, strengthen motivation, and support lasting change. They are commonly applied in addiction recovery, where ambivalence is high, but are equally effective in mental health counseling, healthcare, and coaching. Within the broader landscape of behavioral therapies , MI stands out for its focus on collaboration, empathy, and client-driven decision-making.
🔹 General Open-Ended Questions
“What concerns you most about your current situation?”
“If nothing changes, what do you think things will look like in a year?”
“What would you like to see happen in your life right now?”
“When have you felt most successful in the past?”
“What strengths could help you make this change?”
🔹 Pre-Contemplation Stage (Not Ready to Change)
“What do you enjoy about things as they are now?”
“What are some of the less good things?”
“Has anyone ever expressed concern to you about this behavior?”
“What would need to happen for you to consider change?”
🔹 Contemplation Stage (Thinking About Change)
“What are the pros and cons of continuing the way things are?”
“What’s one reason you might want to make a change?”
“If you decided to change, what would be different?”
“How do you feel about the possibility of change right now?”
🔹 Preparation Stage (Getting Ready)
“What steps have you already taken toward change?”
“What obstacles do you expect to face?”
“How could you overcome those obstacles?”
“Who could support you as you move forward?”
🔹 Action Stage (Making Changes)
“What strategies are helping you succeed so far?”
“What challenges have come up, and how did you handle them?”
“How are you feeling about the changes you’ve made?”
“What will help you keep going when things get tough?”
🔹 Maintenance & Relapse Prevention
“What has helped you stay on track so far?”
“What signs might warn you of a setback?”
“If a slip happens, how would you want to respond?”
“What keeps you motivated day to day?”
🔹 Confidence & Readiness Rulers
“On a scale from 1–10, how ready are you to make a change?”
“Why are you at [current number] and not a lower one?”
“What would it take to move you one number higher?”
“On a scale of 1–10, how confident are you that you can succeed?”
🔹 Values Exploration Questions
Therapists often use MI to connect behavior change to a client’s core values.
“What matters most to you in life right now?”
“How does your current behavior fit—or not fit—with what you value?”
“If your health/family/work were your top priority, what would change?”
🔹 Looking Forward / Looking Back
This technique creates contrast and builds motivation.
“If things don’t change, where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
“What would your future look like if you made changes?”
“When in the past have you successfully made a big change? What helped?”
🔹 Evocative Questions (Change Talk Prompts)
These are MI-specific and therapists expect them.
“What would be the best outcome if you decided to change?”
“What worries you about not changing?”
“If you woke up tomorrow and the problem was gone, what would be different?” (the miracle question)
🔹Scaling Follow-Ups (Deeper Probes)
Beyond “Why a 5 and not a 3?”, add:
“What makes you think you could move from a 6 to a 7?”
“What would need to happen before you felt completely ready?”
🔹 Exploring Ambivalence (Decisional Balance)
MI is built on ambivalence. Including both sides shows clinical depth.
“What do you like about using/not changing?”
“What are some not-so-good things about it?”
“What would you gain if you changed? What would you lose?”
A Motivational Interviewing Questions PDF is valuable for therapists, recovery coaches, and healthcare providers who need a quick reference tool. A strong handout should:
Outline the stages of change
Include OARS reminders
Offer examples of affirmations and reflections
Provide confidence/importance rulers
This makes it practical in-session and easy to use across different client populations.
Final Thoughts
Motivational Interviewing is about guiding—not forcing—change. The right questions open space for reflection, spark change talk, and help clients discover their own reasons for moving forward.
Use this question set as the foundation for your own Motivational Interviewing Questions PDF. With a clear framework and practical prompts, you’ll be equipped to support meaningful change in addiction recovery, mental health, or any behavior-change setting.
Solace Health Group conducts thorough research, includes trusted citations, and ensures all content is reviewed for accuracy. However, this article is not medical advice and should not replace professional evaluation or treatment. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before making any medical or treatment decisions.
Motivational Interviewing Questions PDF 📄
Core References
Miller, W.R., & Rollnick, S. (2013). Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change (3rd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
The classic textbook by the creators of MI.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). (2018). Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (3rd ed.).
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition
Federal resource highlighting MI in evidence-based addiction care.
Center for Evidence-Based Practices, Case Western Reserve University. (2011). Motivational Interviewing: Evidence-Based Practice.
Widely cited training and clinical reference guide.
SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). (2019). Using Motivational Interviewing in Substance Use Treatment.
https://store.samhsa.gov/product/using-motivational-interviewing-in-substance-use-treatment/pep19-02-01-003
Higgins, S. T., Heil, S. H., & Lussier, J. P. (2004). Clinical implications of reinforcement as a determinant of substance use disorders. Annual Review of Psychology, 55, 431–461.
Discusses reinforcement and behavior change, which supports MI’s underlying principles.
