A necessary first step in the psychosocial treatment of persons with severe
mental illness is helping them identify their goals. Unfortunately, goal a
ssessment is often viewed as a categorical process in which individuals lis
t needs for which they require services. Motivational interviews provide a
more sophisticated approach in which persons specify the costs and benefits
to each of the needs in the list. Benefits define the reasons why a person
should pursue a goal; costs define barriers to achieving that goal. The ba
sic mechanisms for understanding and implementing motivational interviews a
re summarized. Ways to circumvent barriers to motivational interviews are a
lso discussed.