Target behaviour? A critical analysis of motivational interviewing in children and family social work

This article presents a critical reflective commentary on the application of motivational interviewing (MI) in children and family social work, drawing on one of the authors’ first-person action research projects, which explored her use of MI with service users. Here, MI’s assumption of service user autonomy was identified, and critical reflection was applied to critique this in the context of neoliberal hegemony and associated widespread poverty and inequality in the UK. We highlight how an inappropriate use of MI risks responsibilising service users when their autonomy is restricted by socio-economic conditions and structural forces. Through this process, an incongruence between the spirit of MI and its current application in children and family social work is identified. The importance of a critical application of MI is then discussed, particularly in a UK children and family social work practice context where the use of single theory models of social work practice is promoted.<p></p>