Motivational Interviewing and Making Change in Maryland

Understanding motivational interviewing and when people look for change

Motivational interviewing is a collaborative conversation style that helps people explore their own reasons for change and any mixed feelings about it without lecturing. It is designed to draw out your values and goals while helping you weigh options, rather than telling you what to do. People use this approach when they are thinking about changing habits, managing health conditions, improving relationships, navigating career transitions or addressing other life goals. It is not limited to work on substance use and should be understood as one way clinicians may invite reflection and personal motivation.

On this Maryland page you will find profiles of clinicians who list motivational interviewing among their approaches. Listing that approach on a profile is an indication to start a conversation about how that clinician might use it with you. It does not mean the clinician guarantees specific outcomes or that every profile represents the same style. When you scan profiles, focus on how clinicians describe the role of motivational interviewing in their work and whether that aligns with the kind of change you are considering.

How to interpret the listed location and professional credentials

A profile listed under Maryland groups clinicians who have chosen that location on their profile. A listed location is not evidence of an office, physical proximity, eligibility for every resident, or an active license in that location. You should check each individual profile and confirm whether the clinician is permitted to work with you where you live. This is especially important if you plan to meet in person or arrange online sessions across state or national lines.

Academic degrees and professional permission to practice are distinct. Degrees such as PhD, PsyD, MD, MA and MSW describe educational background. Professional licensing, registration or membership refers to the authority that allows a clinician to provide care in a given jurisdiction. In the United States that authority is usually a state license. In the United Kingdom and Australia it is often described as registration or membership with a regulatory or professional body. A degree alone does not establish current permission to practice. Look at how each profile lists degrees, licenses or registrations, and ask about the jurisdiction where permission to practice applies.

Practical questions to ask about approach and experience

When you contact someone, concrete questions help reveal whether their style and experience match your needs. You can ask how they typically use motivational interviewing and whether it is integrated with other approaches they list, how they describe the balance between listening and offering suggestions, and what kinds of changes they commonly support. Ask for examples of the kinds of goals they have helped people explore, whether they have experience with situations similar to yours, and how they adapt conversations when ambivalence is strong.

It is useful to clarify whether the clinician focuses on short-term, change-oriented work or on longer therapy processes, and how they identify progress. If language or culture are important to you, ask about languages spoken and experience working across cultural contexts. Also inquire about the clinician’s academic degrees and whether those degrees are accompanied by a current license, registration or professional membership that permits practice in your location. These questions help you compare profiles on substance, not assumption.

What to discuss before starting online or remote care

If you are considering remote sessions, talk about practical and legal details before you begin. Ask whether the clinician is authorized to provide care in your state or country, what their policy is for documentation and record keeping, and how they handle clinical emergencies or urgent concerns if they arise during online contact. You can also discuss the technology platform they prefer, whether captions or interpreters can be arranged, and what to expect if connection problems interrupt a session.

Clarifying the expected session routine can reduce uncertainty. Invite the clinician to describe how they typically open a session, how you might set goals together, and how they follow up on progress. If you require accommodations for accessibility, language or scheduling, ask how those needs are handled. Remember that questions about legal jurisdiction, documentation and emergency planning are about practical arrangements rather than judgments about your situation.

Comparing profiles: focus areas, languages, credentials and therapeutic style

When comparing profiles on this Maryland page, concentrate on concrete dimensions that matter to you. Look for stated focus areas such as habit change, chronic health behavior, relationship dynamics, workplace transitions or other concerns you have, and note whether motivational interviewing is described as a core part of the clinician’s approach or one option among many. Check which languages are listed if communicating in a particular language is important, and read how clinicians describe their therapeutic style - for example whether they emphasize collaborative exploration, structured goal-setting, or reflective listening.

Pay attention to how credentials are presented. Profiles often list academic degrees and may also list licenses, registrations or memberships. Degrees tell you about training; licenses and registrations tell you about permission to practice in a specific place. If a profile mentions other approaches such as cognitive or behavioral methods, psychodynamic perspectives or strengths-based work, treat those as topics to discuss rather than as guarantees of a fixed method. Finally, remember that a listed topic does not automatically mean a clinician treats children, couples or families. Discuss your specific needs and the clinician’s scope directly so you can determine whether the match feels right.

Across every profile you view, prioritize clear, concrete answers to your questions about how motivational interviewing might be used with your situation, where the clinician is permitted to work, what their professional credentials mean in your region, and how they handle the practicalities of sessions. Those details will help you make an informed choice about who to contact from the Maryland listings on ChangeAtYourPace.org.