The technique used by social workers to increase a client's motivation to change is called?

• A. Analysis of resistance
• B. Motivational interviewing
• C. Behavioral activation
• D. Cognitive dissonance analysis

Answer: (A)

Motivational interviewing is the technique used to increase a client’s motivation to change. It’s a collaborative, person-centered approach that helps clients explore and resolve ambivalence about change by drawing out their own reasons for making a change and supporting their sense of autonomy. The counselor uses open-ended questions, reflective listening, affirmations, and summaries to evoke “change talk” and strengthen readiness to change, rather than pushing or directing the client.

This approach fits because it targets motivation and readiness directly, which is the goal of the question. Other options describe different ideas not primarily focused on building motivation: analyzing resistance is about noticing how clients push back and addressing it, but it isn’t a structured technique to boost motivation; behavioral activation focuses on increasing engagement in activities to improve mood, not on eliciting intrinsic motivation for broader change; cognitive dissonance analysis centers on highlighting inconsistencies between beliefs and actions, which is not a standard, client-centered method for enhancing motivation in the way motivational interviewing does.