Motivational Interviewing within Work and Income: Interim Report Analysis of Single Case Data from the Lower South Island

Abstract

The current study highlights the potential of motivational interviewing training for Work and Income staff to improve their relational and technical skills in MI. Improved relational skills will improve the working alliance between Work and Income staff. Further, increased MI technical skills means that staff are able to build and strengthen client motivation for change. Given the wealth of literature linking working alliance and increased change talk to treatment outcome and behaviour change, training Work and Income staff in MI is likely to be of benefit, leading to clients seeking training and/or employment, or changing behaviours which are a barrier to training/employment.