Which of the following describes a counselor's role in the Motivational Interviewing process?

In the context of Motivational Interviewing (MI), a counselor's role is centered around guiding the conversation and expressing empathy. This approach prioritizes building a collaborative relationship between the counselor and the client, where the counselor seeks to understand the client's perspective and motivations rather than imposing their own values or agenda.

Empathy is key in MI, as it helps to create a safe and supportive environment where clients feel heard and understood. This facilitates open dialogue about the clients' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, allowing them to explore their own motivations for change. By guiding the conversation, the counselor can gently steer discussions towards exploring ambivalence and enhancing the client's intrinsic motivation for change.

In contrast, imposing values would conflict with the principles of MI, as it can create resistance rather than promote engagement. Similarly, quickly diagnosing clients without a thorough understanding of their context would undermine the MI process, which is more focused on conversation and understanding than on labeling. Lastly, maintaining strict structure detracts from the flexible and client-centered nature of MI, which values adaptability in response to the client’s needs and progress throughout the session.