Effects of Motivational Interviewing Training in Career Counseling: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Motivational interviewing (MI) is receiving increasing attention in the field of career counseling. Using a quasi-experimental design, this pilot study examines the impact of MI training on career counselors’ behaviors and clients’ talk within audio-recorded interviews. Eight school-based career counselors participated in the study. They audio-recorded their interviews with 30 students prior to MI training and with 32 students after it. Counselors’ behaviors and students’ talk were coded using the Motivational Interviewing Skills Code 2.1. The results demonstrate mixed outcomes in terms of career counselors’ MI proficiency after the training. Career counselors’ proficiency improved in some of the indicators (percentages of MI-consistent behaviors and reflections-to-questions ratio) and worsened in others (percentages of complex reflections [% REC] and open questions). Reaching proficiency in the % REC influenced students’ change talk, but reaching proficiency in the % MICO did not. Implications for MI training and research in career counseling are discussed.