The Nexus Teen Academy editorial and clinical team is dedicated to providing informative and accurate content to help families who are struggling with adolescent behavioral health problems. The editorial team works directly with the clinical team to ensure information is accurate and up-to-date.
To do this, our team uses the following editorial guidelines:
We generally only cite government and peer-reviewed studies
Scientific claims and data are backed by qualified sources
Content is updated to ensure we are citing the most up-to-date data and information
Clinically reviewed by Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC
Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC
Hannah graduated from Arizona State University with her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Master’s in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Arizona. She began her work as a therapist 12 years ago in South Phoenix with an intensive outpatient program for teens and their families. She joined Nexus in the residential program as the clinical director, eventually being promoted to the executive director, creating and building the clinical program structure and a strong culture focused on redirecting the trajectory of young lives.
The Nexus Teen Academy Editorial Staff is composed of writers, editors, and clinical reviewers with many years of experience writing about mental health and behavioral health treatment. Our team utilizes peer-reviewed, clinical studies from sources like SAMHSA to ensure we provide the most accurate and current information.
Teen motivational interviewing is a goal-oriented style of evidence-based treatment offered at outpatient and inpatient mental health programs.
If you are interested in learning more about the motivational interviewing programs at Nexus Teen Academy, contact our team today and we can walk you through the process as well as our other treatment offerings.
What is Teen Motivational Interviewing?
Teen motivational interviewing is a treatment practice applied to teens and adolescents for problems such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and more. According to a study in Addictive Behaviors, this treatment is “a client-centered counseling style directed at exploring and resolving ambivalence about changing personal behaviors.”
Motivational interviewing offers clients an opportunity to get excited about the prospect of healing and make changes to their lifestyle to put their personal growth at the forefront.
How Does Motivational Interviewing Work?
During a teen motivational interviewing session, clients will work directly with therapists or counselors and provide a guiding style of communication that works to empower the individuals. Through open questions, affirmations of strengths, and careful listening, the therapist works to help improve the individual’s autonomy and guide them toward behavioral changes.
Rather than imparting skills, tools, or information to the client teen MI works by improving a client’s motivation toward renewing or beginning healthy behaviors. These changes can help clients establish healthier habits, improving overall emotional, behavioral, and mental health.
Common Motivational Interviewing Questions for Teens
Some questions that may be asked during a motivational interviewing session include:
What are you looking for from this program?
What don’t you like about things currently?
What do you think you might be able to change?
What do you think has to change?
What are some of the reasons you think this needs to change?
These are just some sample questions, each situation is different and a therapist will respond accordingly.
Benefits of Motivational Interviewing for Teens
Teen motivational interviewing offers many benefits, here are a few of the most important:
Increased Motivation for Behavioral Change
Teen MI therapy is a complementary form of treatment that can enhance the effectiveness of other therapies. Motivational interviewing can lead to improved behavioral change through increased self-esteem and optimism as well as the acceptance of the need for change.
Increased Adherence to Treatment
Because MI leads to an increased motivation for improvement, it often leads to clients staying in treatment longer and adhering to treatment schedules more consistently.
Motivational interviewing for teens offers an array of benefits that can help improve an individual’s time in treatment and make them more likely to create and stick with new, healthy habits.
Teen Motivational Interviewing at Nexus Teen Academy
Nexus Teen Academy offers teen motivational interviewing treatment as well as numerous other forms of evidence-based treatment, including teen CBT, DBT, group therapy, family therapy, and more. Our motivational interviewing programs are in place to help clients adjust to our residential treatment program in Arizona and improve their attitude toward treatment and healing.
At Nexus, we work to ensure that your son or daughter’s stay with us is as comfortable as possible. To assist with this we offer age-appropriate TV, video games, monthly outings, meals cooked by our executive chef, and more at a serene and secluded location that feels like a home.
Our program is built on trust, respect, and safety and we work every day to ensure these standards are upheld. If you are interested in learning more about our program, contact our admissions team today and they can answer any questions you have.
Motivational Interviewing with Teens
FACT CHECKED
The Nexus Teen Academy editorial and clinical team is dedicated to providing informative and accurate content to help families who are struggling with adolescent behavioral health problems. The editorial team works directly with the clinical team to ensure information is accurate and up-to-date.
To do this, our team uses the following editorial guidelines:
Clinically reviewed by Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC
Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC
Hannah graduated from Arizona State University with her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Master’s in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Arizona. She began her work as a therapist 12 years ago in South Phoenix with an intensive outpatient program for teens and their families. She joined Nexus in the residential program as the clinical director, eventually being promoted to the executive director, creating and building the clinical program structure and a strong culture focused on redirecting the trajectory of young lives.
Published By Nexus Teen Academy
Nexus Teen Academy
The Nexus Teen Academy Editorial Staff is composed of writers, editors, and clinical reviewers with many years of experience writing about mental health and behavioral health treatment. Our team utilizes peer-reviewed, clinical studies from sources like SAMHSA to ensure we provide the most accurate and current information.
Published On March 18, 2025
Table of Contents
Teen motivational interviewing is a goal-oriented style of evidence-based treatment offered at outpatient and inpatient mental health programs.
If you are interested in learning more about the motivational interviewing programs at Nexus Teen Academy, contact our team today and we can walk you through the process as well as our other treatment offerings.
What is Teen Motivational Interviewing?
Teen motivational interviewing is a treatment practice applied to teens and adolescents for problems such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and more. According to a study in Addictive Behaviors, this treatment is “a client-centered counseling style directed at exploring and resolving ambivalence about changing personal behaviors.”
Motivational interviewing offers clients an opportunity to get excited about the prospect of healing and make changes to their lifestyle to put their personal growth at the forefront.
How Does Motivational Interviewing Work?
During a teen motivational interviewing session, clients will work directly with therapists or counselors and provide a guiding style of communication that works to empower the individuals. Through open questions, affirmations of strengths, and careful listening, the therapist works to help improve the individual’s autonomy and guide them toward behavioral changes.
Rather than imparting skills, tools, or information to the client teen MI works by improving a client’s motivation toward renewing or beginning healthy behaviors. These changes can help clients establish healthier habits, improving overall emotional, behavioral, and mental health.
Common Motivational Interviewing Questions for Teens
Some questions that may be asked during a motivational interviewing session include:
These are just some sample questions, each situation is different and a therapist will respond accordingly.
Benefits of Motivational Interviewing for Teens
Teen motivational interviewing offers many benefits, here are a few of the most important:
Increased Motivation for Behavioral Change
Teen MI therapy is a complementary form of treatment that can enhance the effectiveness of other therapies. Motivational interviewing can lead to improved behavioral change through increased self-esteem and optimism as well as the acceptance of the need for change.
Increased Adherence to Treatment
Because MI leads to an increased motivation for improvement, it often leads to clients staying in treatment longer and adhering to treatment schedules more consistently.
Motivational interviewing for teens offers an array of benefits that can help improve an individual’s time in treatment and make them more likely to create and stick with new, healthy habits.
Teen Motivational Interviewing at Nexus Teen Academy
Nexus Teen Academy offers teen motivational interviewing treatment as well as numerous other forms of evidence-based treatment, including teen CBT, DBT, group therapy, family therapy, and more. Our motivational interviewing programs are in place to help clients adjust to our residential treatment program in Arizona and improve their attitude toward treatment and healing.
At Nexus, we work to ensure that your son or daughter’s stay with us is as comfortable as possible. To assist with this we offer age-appropriate TV, video games, monthly outings, meals cooked by our executive chef, and more at a serene and secluded location that feels like a home.
Our program is built on trust, respect, and safety and we work every day to ensure these standards are upheld. If you are interested in learning more about our program, contact our admissions team today and they can answer any questions you have.