What Is Motivational Interviewing and How Does It Support Change?

You know that feeling when part of you wants something different, but another part keeps hitting the brakes?

The inner tug-of-war manifests in all sorts of ways. It may be habits you wish would change, relationships that need some tending, or just the day-in, day-out weight of anxiety.

So here’s what helps: a way of talking that doesn’t force or judge but listens in fact.

Knowing What Motivational Interviewing Truly Is

A conversation style wherein your therapist walks beside you instead of leading from the front. There’s no checklist of what you should do or a timeline you are supposed to follow.

What happens:

• You explore what matters to you without pressure

• Mixed feelings get space to exist

• Your own voice becomes clearer

• Small shifts start making sense

The whole idea rests on something simple. You already know yourself better than anyone else does but sometimes you just need room to hear your own thinking.

What Sessions Actually Feel Like

Your therapist pays attention differently here. They're curious about your perspective, not fixing or directing. Questions open things up rather than closing them down.

You might notice:

• Reflections that let you hear yourself from another angle

• Gentle noticing of contradictions without judgment

• Recognition of what you've already managed

• Patterns you hadn't quite seen before

When nobody's pushing, resistance tends to fade. That's when the possibility starts creeping in.

Why Changes Actually Last

Shifting becomes interesting when you decide to shift because you want to, not because you have to.

You either go through the motions or you move towards something that feels right.

That empty space between how things are and how you wish them to be? It creates tension. Not the bad kind, but the kind that moves you when you’re ready.

This looks like:

• Choices that line up with what you care about

• Movement that comes from inside

• Changes that feel more like relief than effort

• Progress that doesn't need constant willpower

  
  

How Yapriah Brings This to Life

Suzette J. Aiken has been doing this work for over ten years, and she weaves motivational interviewing into everything.

She's certified in DBT, trained in trauma care, and uses CBT, but it all comes back to meeting you where you actually are.

What shows up in sessions:

• Space for wherever you're at right now

• Respect for what you've already survived

• Work that feels collaborative, not prescribed

• Tools that make sense for your life

The practice itself follows this rhythm of seasons; nothing forced, everything intentional. Growth happens when the conditions are right, and that's what Yapriah creates.

Your Next Step

If you've been sitting with the idea of change but haven't quite moved toward it, maybe this approach fits.

Yapriah offers that space where hesitation isn't a problem, it's just part of the process.

Your season for growth might be right now.

Reach out to Yapriah Life & Healing PLLC to start.

We work with BlueCrossBlueShield, United Health, and Aetna, plus sliding scale fees when needed. Your first conversation could be the one that shifts everything.

FAQs

Will this work for what I'm dealing with? 

If you feel stuck between wanting change and staying put, this helps. Works well for anxiety, transitions, and shifting patterns.

What makes this different? 

The focus stays on what you want and why, not what you should do. Your reasons for change matter more than anyone else's.

How much time does it take?

 Depends on you. Some people feel movement quickly. Others layer it into longer work. There's no rush.