Discovering Motivational Interviewing: A Refresher Journey with Stephen Rollnick and Orla Adams

This article on Motivational Interviewing is written by Anna Keyter. Photo by Anna Tarazevich

As I attended the seminar, notebook in hand, I felt a familiar mix of anticipation and calm. This wasn’t my first encounter with Motivational Interviewing (MI), but attending a training led by one of its founders, Stephen Rollnick, alongside the passionate Orla Adams, felt like coming home to a powerful, positive approach that had shaped my practice years ago. For therapists, coaches, dietitians, and helping professionals across New Zealand and beyond, MI offers more than techniques — it is a way of being with people that builds confidence, evokes real change, and reignites our own sense of purpose (Miller & Rollnick, 2023).

This article weaves the story of that seminar as a personal refresher, blending the origins of Motivational Interviewing, its core principles, practical skills, and real-world wisdom. It is told through the voices and experiences shared by Rollnick and Adams, with reflections on how MI helps people grow and thrive. Whether you are new to MI or seeking a boost like I was, this exploration shows why it remains one of the most effective, compassionate approaches in modern practice. MI is deeply rooted in research.

Stephen Rollnick’s journey into Motivational Interviewing began far from the therapy rooms of today. Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, during the apartheid era, he later moved to Cardiff, Wales (Rollnick, as cited in ISSUP, 2025). As a clinical psychologist, his work spanned addiction, mental health, education, and criminal justice. He became close friends and collaborators with William R. Miller, the other founder of MI (Miller & Rollnick, 2013, 2023).

Rollnick recalled reviewing an article by Miller on MI. Something clicked. He saw its potential and travelled to Australia to work in addiction treatment. There, he reconnected with Miller. At the time, interest in the approach was modest, so they channelled their energy into writing. Their early books targeted the addiction field, laying the foundation for what would become a global movement (Miller & Rollnick, 2013).

Over decades, Rollnick’s work evolved across contexts — from helping professionals in health care to supporting elite athletes. He emphasises that Motivational Interviewing is for all human beings with hopes and dreams who want to make changes. It is not just about fixing problems; it is about helping people grow and thrive (Miller & Rollnick, 2023). In the seminar, his warmth and humility shone through, reminding us that even founders continue learning.

Orla Adams brought a relatable, grounded perspective as a registered dietitian specialising in weight management and obesity support in the UK’s National Health Service (Adams, as cited in MI Network of Trainers [MINT], n.d.). Like many of us, she was mindful of her shortcomings in communicating with clients. She had tried numerous approaches and felt she did not make much progress; she felt, “I don’t want to do this anymore — I’m not getting anywhere.” She felt ineffective, lost motivation, and even considered a career change.

Then she attended a one-day conference on Motivational Interviewing in 2006. That single experience transformed her path (Adams, as cited in MINT, n.d.). She learned to ask key questions like “How important is it for you to make this change?” Suddenly, conversations shifted from resistance to engagement. She trained alongside Stephen Rollnick and has since dedicated herself to training others. Her passion is infectious — she shows how MI equips practitioners to handle ambivalence without burnout.

Hearing Orla’s story mirrored my own refresher moment. MI isn’t a quick fix; it is a career-sustaining skill that restores confidence and effectiveness (Miller & Rollnick, 2023).

At its heart, Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, person-centred approach for strengthening a person’s own motivation and commitment to change. It builds engagement, helps find focus, evokes internal motivation, cultivates change talk, and guides toward clear, agreed-upon plans (Miller & Rollnick, 2013, 2023).

Rollnick described it as guidance that is directional but not directive. You walk alongside the person, helping them clarify what matters most. Clients leave with plans they own, not ones imposed on them.

The MI Spirit underpins everything: partnership, acceptance, compassion, and empowerment (or evocation). It is about seeing people as experts in their own lives. This spirit does not just guide clients — it transforms therapists too. An internal shift happens when we embody these qualities (Miller & Rollnick, 2023).

Affirmations build self-efficacy by highlighting strengths. MI is strengths-based: it is like putting on special glasses that let you see the resilience, abilities, and qualities in every person, even amid struggles.

The seminar outlined four key processes that guide practitioners: Engaging, Focusing, Evoking, and Planning. These are not strictly linear — you flow between them as needed (Miller & Rollnick, 2023).

This structure gave me a clear map for sessions that often feel chaotic.

The foundational communication skills are remembered as OARS: Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, and Summaries (Miller & Rollnick, 2013).

• Open questions invite storytelling: “What’s important to you about this?” or “How confident do you feel about taking that step?”
• Affirmations recognise strengths: “You’ve already shown real courage by coming here today.”
• Reflections show you are listening: Simple, complex, or double-sided to capture ambivalence.
  Summaries tie things together and transition.

Listen with curiosity, not a fixing reflex. The goal is understanding, not immediate solutions. Be fully present — no distractions, no waiting for your turn to speak. Seek the person’s own ideas and solutions. Accept them where they are and focus on their strengths. They know themselves better than we ever will.

Rollnick emphasised that Motivational Interviewing is more than engaging and listening — it has direction. Like learning to ride a bike, looking forward (toward the person’s goals) keeps things moving. It is a relaxed chat that goes deep, a dance of partnership rather than opposition (Miller & Rollnick, 2023).

One of the most liberating insights was addressing the fixing reflex — that urge to jump in with advice and solutions. Out of goodwill, we offer streams of suggestions, but people often push back or disengage. They vote with their feet and do not return.

Motivational Interviewing prevents burnout by incorporating empathy and avoiding the draining effort of trying to instil motivation. When done well, it benefits both client and practitioner. Your heart reaches out, but it stays contained within professional boundaries. This is vital in high-stress fields (Miller & Rollnick, 2023).

Advice is not forbidden in MI, but timing and permission matter. It merges seamlessly when the person is ready. This advanced skill was a highlight of the workshop.

A core of Motivational Interviewing is working with ambivalence — the normal mixed feelings about change. We listen for change talk (“I want to…”, “I need to…”, “I will…”) and sustain talk (reasons to keep things as they are) (Miller & Rollnick, 2013, 2023).

Discord (formerly called “resistance”) signals relational tension, not just internal hesitation. We roll with discord rather than confront. Confrontation leads to poorer outcomes.

In a powerful video role-play, a person hesitated at the edge of a diving board — perfect contemplation. Reflections like “You look hesitant” or open questions (“What’s happening for you right now?” “How important is this to you?”) helped them resolve it themselves. Noticing past efforts (“It was tough getting up here, yet here you stand”) evoked confidence.

People are more swayed by what they hear themselves say. This is why Motivational Interviewing is such a strong predictor of change (Miller & Rollnick, 2013).

Motivational Interviewing builds directly on Carl Rogers’ person-centred approach — empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence. It adds direction for behaviour change (Miller & Rollnick, 2023).

Adam Grant’s Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know (2021) complements MI beautifully. Grant discusses MI as a tool for rethinking, using humility and curiosity. He highlights distinguishing sustain talk from change talk, asking open-ended questions, reflective listening, and affirming desire and ability to change (Grant, 2021). This prevents preacher, prosecutor, or politician mindsets and fosters scientific thinking — reconsidering assumptions.

In practice, this means approaching ambivalence with fresh eyes, helping clients (and ourselves) rethink stuck patterns without confrontation.

Interestingly, Nike evolved its iconic “Just Do It” slogan toward “Why Do It?” in recent campaigns, targeting younger generations who seek purpose (Nike, 2025). This shift mirrors MI’s emphasis on evoking personal reasons for change rather than external commands. People decide their “why,” which fuels sustained action.

Motivational Interviewing is not a panacea. It has limits in acute crisis, severe trauma, or complex pathology, where other approaches or direct intervention may be needed first. It is best as a layer within a strong therapeutic alliance. In chaotic real-world conversations, it provides structure but requires flexibility (Miller & Rollnick, 2023).

Ethically, never manipulate. Check in with clients about how the process feels. Avoid enthusiastic overuse. Rollnick and Adams stressed straight language: instead of “What I hear you saying is you feel sad,” simply reflect “You’re feeling sad.”

Videos, Role-Plays, and Practical Takeaways from the Seminar

The seminar featured insightful videos contrasting helpful and unhelpful communication. Asking permission, collaborative focusing, and evoking rather than telling stood out. These demonstrations made abstract concepts tangible and boosted my confidence for immediate application.

In a world full of advice overload, Motivational Interviewing offers a different path — one of partnership and empowerment. It helps therapists regain confidence, reduces burnout, and leads to better outcomes across professions — from psychotherapy and dietetics to police crisis negotiations and elite sports.

For my refresher, it reaffirmed that MI is strengths-based, hopeful, and deeply human. It honours people’s inherent wisdom and capacity for change (Miller & Rollnick, 2023).

Leaving the seminar, I felt renewed. Stephen Rollnick and Orla Adams did not just teach skills — they modelled the MI spirit with compassion, partnership, and quiet empowerment. As Miller and Rollnick remind us, it is about helping people change and grow by evoking their own motivations (Miller & Rollnick, 2023).

If you are a practitioner in New Zealand or anywhere, consider Motivational Interviewing training. It is more than a method; it is a way to engage more effectively, listen more deeply, and help people discover their path forward.

Grant, A. (2021). Think again: The power of knowing what you don’t know. Viking.
Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2013). Motivational interviewing: Helping people change (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2023). Motivational interviewing: Helping people change and grow (4th ed.). Guilford Press.
Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers. (n.d.). Orla Adams. https://motivationalinterviewing.org/profile/orlaadams
Nike. (2025, September 4). Nike reintroduces “Just Do It” to today’s generation with “Why Do It?” https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/nike-why-do-it-campaign