What is change talk in Motivational Interviewing?

Change talk refers to the client’s own words that express motivation, willingness, or reasons to make a positive change. It is a central concept in Motivational Interviewing (MI)—a counseling approach designed to help people resolve ambivalence and strengthen their commitment to change.

In MI, therapists listen closely for specific types of statements that reflect the client’s movement toward change. These include:

• Desire: “I want to quit smoking.”
• Ability: “I think I can start going to the gym.”
• Reasons: “If I stop drinking, I’ll feel healthier.”
• Need: “I really need to get my anxiety under control.”
• Commitment: “I’ve decided to make a change.”
• Taking steps: “I’ve already started cutting back.”

Therapists use these statements as opportunities to deepen the conversation, reflect the client’s motivation, and guide them toward setting goals and taking action. The more a person engages in change talk, the more likely they are to follow through with actual behavior change.

Why is change talk important?
Change talk is a predictor of success in therapy. Research shows that the more clients verbalize their motivation, the more likely they are to make meaningful progress. Rather than telling clients what to do, MI helps clients hear themselves say why they want to change—making it more likely they will act on it.

Summary:

Change talk is when a person expresses their own desire, reason, or ability to make a positive change. In Motivational Interviewing, therapists listen for these statements to support motivation and help the client move toward action. The more someone talks about change, the more likely they are to follow through.