Integrating the motivational interviewing approach with cognitive behavioral therapy in school counseling

Cognitive behavioral therapy is an evidence-based intervention approach that has proven successful across a variety of conditions and has gained traction in the world of school counseling. However, it also has some key limitations. One of the main limitations is the assumption that the client enters intervention with high motivation, an assumption that only holds true for some clients. It has therefore been proposed to integrate the motivational interviewing approach within cognitive behavioral therapy in order to improve intervention efficacy in school counseling. This integration, while common in the field of psychotherapy, is not yet a widespread practice in school counseling. The current article aims to raise awareness among school counselors about the benefits of integrating the motivational interviewing approach with cognitive behavioral therapy. Hopefully, this will lead to broader implementation of this integration in the field of school counseling.