Final answer:
Motivational interviewing is characterized by concentrated listening, invested pursuit of client needs, and vulnerability in the counsellor-client relationship. It emphasizes situational awareness, intentional support, and a collaborative approach, enhanced by nonverbal cues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Motivational interviewing has three essential characteristics that contribute to its effectiveness as a counseling approach. These characteristics include: concentrated listening and situational awareness, which means being fully present and committed to understanding the client’s perspective; an invested pursuit of character needs, which involves a focused drive to explore and support the client’s intentions and objectives; and vulnerability and relationship, which entails a willingness to be open and to work cooperatively with clients. Additionally, elements such as communion with the client, the counselor's imagination and curiosity, and consistency within the context of the client’s world play a role in the process.
Research has also shown the influence of nonverbal cues, such as visual and vocal expressions of personality traits like conscientiousness, openness, and extraversion, on the outcomes of the interviewing process.