Motivational Interviewing
For when part of you wants change and part of you doesn't. I'll help you sort it out, then set a goal that's actually yours.
- Free10-minute consultation
- 24–48 HrsTypical time to a first session
- 11 StatesCA, CO, GA, FL, IL, NJ, NV, NY, MA, TX, VT
- In-NetworkUnited Healthcare, or private pay
What Is Motivational Interviewing?
Motivational interviewing, or MI, is a collaborative approach built for mixed feelings about change. You know the drinking has crept up, the hours at work are too long or your temper is costing you. You also have real reasons for keeping things as they are. Both sides feel true, so nothing moves.
None of this means something is wrong with you. Feeling two ways about change is normal, and being lectured usually makes people dig in harder. MI with me gives you room to sort through both sides without pressure, find your own reasons, and leave with a plan.
MI has strong research support for alcohol and other substance use and other habits people feel stuck on. Sessions start with where you are and what you want to change.
When MI Tends to Help
Most people don't book a first session because they have decided they want motivational interviewing. They book because they keep meaning to change something and it keeps not happening.
MI tends to suit people who are on the fence, or who came in because someone else asked them to. If a few of these sound like the last several months, it's worth a conversation.
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What Motivational Interviewing Helps With
Feeling stuck rarely stays in one corner of life. A habit you use to unwind after work shapes your evenings at home, and tension at home sends you back to the habit. Choose an area to see how it can look and what I focus on in sessions.
When the nightly drink isn't just one anymore
For many people, drinking or other substances started as a way to unwind and slowly became the default. It may not feel like a crisis, but it's more than you'd like, and part of you has noticed.
MI was originally developed for exactly this kind of mixed feeling. I help you look honestly at what the habit gives you and what it costs, so any decision to cut back or stop is one you actually believe in.
What I help with
- Taking an honest look at your drinking or use
- Deciding whether to cut back or stop
- Handling social pressure and old routines
- Getting back on track after a slip
When work keeps winning
Long hours can feel necessary, and sometimes they are. Other times, staying busy is a way to avoid problems at home or feelings you'd rather not sit with. You know the pace isn't sustainable, but slowing down feels risky.
In sessions we weigh what the pace is giving you against what it's taking. From there you decide what, if anything, needs to shift, and how to do it without losing what matters to you at work.
What I help with
- Overworking to avoid other problems
- Weighing career goals against family time
- Setting limits at work you can keep
- Making room for rest without guilt
When checking out becomes the default
A few hours on your phone, gaming or streaming can feel like the only real break in a busy day. Over time it can eat into sleep, relationships and the things that used to recharge you.
MI helps you get clear on what the habit is doing for you and whether it's still worth the trade. If you decide to change it, we build a plan that fits your life, not a rule you'll break by Thursday.
What I help with
- Checking out through screens, gaming or scrolling
- Late nights that cut into sleep
- Gambling or sports betting
- Pulling away from friends and family
- Finding other ways to unwind
When you keep meaning to take better care of yourself
Most people already know the list: eat better, move more, keep a sleep schedule, finally see a doctor. The hard part is caring about it on a Tuesday night when you're tired and stressed.
MI connects these changes to what you actually care about, like having energy for your kids or feeling sharp at work. That connection is what makes a plan stick.
What I help with
- Building exercise and sleep routines
- Following through on health goals
- Connecting change to what matters to you
- Staying consistent after the first few weeks
When other people say your temper is a problem
Sometimes the push to work on anger comes from a partner, a boss or a family member, and it can feel unfair. You may see your reactions as justified, even if they're starting to cost you.
MI gives you space to look at it on your own terms, without being labeled. If you decide something needs to change, we can bring in CBT and DBT skills to help you do it.
Looking for more on this? See Therapy for Men's Issues.
What I help with
- Sorting out whether your anger is costing you
- Responding when others raise concerns
- Deciding what you want to change
- Building skills once you're ready
When your partner wants change and you're not sure
Often one partner pushes for change, whether that's counseling, cutting back on drinking or being home more, and the other feels criticized. The more one pushes, the more the other digs in.
MI helps you step out of that standoff. We look at what you want from the relationship and what you're willing to do, without anyone telling you what to think.
Want to work on this with your partner? See Couples & Marriage Counseling.
What I help with
- When a partner suggested therapy
- Breaking the push-and-resist cycle
- Deciding what you want from the relationship
- Following through on commitments
When you keep going back and forth
Changing careers, moving, retiring, ending a relationship or recommitting to one: big decisions rarely have an obvious right answer, and the back and forth can last for months.
In sessions I help you lay out both sides clearly and figure out which reasons matter most to you. The goal isn't to push you in one direction. It's to help you decide and move forward.
What I help with
- Career changes and job offers
- Whether to stay or leave
- Retirement and next chapters
- Getting past overthinking and making a call
What People Get Wrong About Motivational Interviewing
Motivational interviewing is less well known than CBT or DBT, and what people do hear about it is usually secondhand. Some of it is accurate. Some of it has turned into myths that make MI sound pushier or more passive than it really is.
Hover over or tap a card to see what MI actually looks like.
MI isn't a sales pitch. I won't argue with you or try to convince you of anything. The approach works because it respects your right to decide. My job is to help you hear your own reasons more clearly, whatever they turn out to be.
Most people start MI unsure, and that's the point. It was built for the stage where you're not ready yet, or not sure change is worth it. Sorting through that uncertainty is the work, not something you need to finish beforehand.
MI began in addiction treatment and is still widely used there. Today it's also used for health habits, anger, overworking, relationship decisions and almost any change people feel stuck on. If you're torn about something, MI can help.
Plenty of people start therapy because a partner, boss or doctor suggested it. That's a common starting point for MI. We begin with what you want, not what they want, and many people find their own reasons once the pressure is off.
What MI Sessions Look Like
Sessions are structured and built around a goal you choose. I start by understanding where you stand on change, then meet you there instead of pushing. Most people move through these stages at their own pace.
Pick the one that sounds most like you right now to see where I'd likely start.
Exploring Where You Stand
When someone else suggested therapy, we start with your view, not theirs. I'll ask what's going on, what you make of their concerns and what matters to you. There's no pressure to agree with anyone, and many people find it's the first time they've talked it through without being lectured.
Working Through Mixed Feelings
Feeling two ways about change is where most people get stuck. We lay out both sides honestly, including the real benefits of the habit, and look at how each fits with what you care about most. Clarity usually comes from your own answers, not from my advice.
Building a Plan That Sticks
Once you've decided what you want, MI shifts to planning. We set a specific goal, choose first steps and figure out what might get in the way. I often bring in CBT or DBT skills at this stage so you have tools to back up the plan.
Every session is held online over secure video. I won't ask you to open up faster than you are ready to. Trust gets built over time, and the pace is something we agree on together.
What People Get Out of MI
People who start MI often say they wish they had started sooner. Progress looks different for everyone, and your goal shapes the work. These are some of the changes clients commonly work toward.
- A clearer sense of what you actually want
- Decisions that feel like your own
- Less tension with people pushing you to change
- Follow-through that lasts past the first few weeks
- Healthier ways to unwind
- More confidence that you can change when you choose to
- A concrete plan instead of good intentions
Common Questions
What is motivational interviewing?
MI is a collaborative, goal-focused approach that helps people work through mixed feelings about change. Instead of telling you what to do, I help you explore your own reasons for and against changing, so any decision you make is one you believe in.
What if I'm not sure I want to change?
That's exactly what MI is built for. You don't need to be ready or convinced before you start. We begin with where you are, and the free 10-minute consultation is a low-pressure way to see whether the approach feels right.
I've never been to therapy. What happens in the first session?
After a free 10-minute phone call, your intake appointment covers what's going on, relevant background and what you want to be different. Depending on need, that first session can often be scheduled within 24 to 48 hours of reaching out. By the end you'll have a defined goal and a rough plan. Follow-up sessions build toward that goal, and we'll check progress together along the way.
How long does motivational interviewing take?
It depends on the goal. MI is often brief, and some clients reach a clear decision and plan within a handful of sessions. Others stay longer to follow through on the change or work on related patterns. Because the work is organized around a defined goal, we'll review progress regularly and decide together when you've reached it.
Does motivational interviewing work online?
Yes. Research shows telehealth therapy produces outcomes comparable to in-person sessions for common concerns such as anxiety and depression. MI is conversation-based, so it translates well to video, and many clients find it easier to speak openly from a familiar space.
How much does it cost, and do you take insurance?
The 10-minute phone consultation is free. Intake and follow-up sessions are $195, and couples sessions are $205. I'm in-network with United Healthcare, though most clients choose private pay for the added privacy and flexibility. Payment is accepted by most major credit cards, Venmo, Cash App, FSA or HSA.
Which states can I book from?
Online sessions are available to clients located in California, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Massachusetts, Texas and Vermont.
Can motivational interviewing be combined with other approaches?
Yes. Most clients end up with a blend. Once you've decided on a change, I often bring in CBT to work on the thoughts that keep you stuck and DBT skills for handling urges and strong emotions.
Get in Touch
10 minutes, no cost. Tell me a little about what's going on and I'll follow up to find a time that works.