Photo of Samer Mahdi Kamal, Psychiatrist in 90048, CA
Samer Mahdi Kamal
Psychiatrist, MD, ABPN
Verified Verified
West Hollywood, CA 90048  (Online Only)
"The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love, and to be greater than our suffering." - Ben Okri Dr. Samer Kamal is a highly respected, licensed psychiatrist specializing in ADHD, PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Panic Disorders in Beverly Hills and the Los Angeles area, and Palm Springs, California. Dr. Kamal completed his MD at Loma Linda University, followed by a residency at New York Medical College. Dr. Kamal is passionate about life and people whose goal is to heal the mind and make a real difference in his patients lives.
"The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love, and to be greater than our suffering." - Ben Okri Dr. Samer Kamal is a highly respected, licensed psychiatrist specializing in ADHD, PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Panic Disorders in Beverly Hills and the Los Angeles area, and Palm Springs, California. Dr. Kamal completed his MD at Loma Linda University, followed by a residency at New York Medical College. Dr. Kamal is passionate about life and people whose goal is to heal the mind and make a real difference in his patients lives.
(951) 488-6328 View (951) 488-6328
Motivational Interviewing Psychiatrists

How does motivational interviewing work?

Motivational interviewing aims to uncover a person’s internal motivation to change their life. Toward this end, the therapist listens, empathizes, and collaborates with the client based on their perspective; the therapist doesn’t adhere to a predetermined plan for change or impose their viewpoint on the client. Discovering an individual’s most important reasons for change, and guiding them to achieve those changes, can empower people to shift from ambivalence to action.

Is motivational interviewing evidence-based?

Yes, research shows that motivational interviewing can help treat alcohol and substance use — and in different ways such as reducing drinking, reducing resistance, and increasing the likelihood of staying in treatment. Motivational interviewing has also been shown to help people lose weight, adhere to medication regimens, improve diet for those with Type II diabetes, and improve healthy behaviors in children.

How long does motivational interviewing last?

Motivational interviewing is a short-term therapy that can last just one or two sessions. In some cases, motivational interviewing may be used in conjunction with longer-term therapies, but for most people, motivational interviewing is a brief intervention that aims to help patients understand their personal, specific, and internal reasons for changing their life.

What differentiates motivational interviewing from person-centered therapy?

In person-centered therapy, the individual is in the driver’s seat of the treatment process, creating space for them to trust their instincts and arrive at their own solutions. The two approaches are similar because motivational interviewing is also client-centered; however, person-centered therapy is more open-ended while motivational interviewing is somewhat more structured; the goal is to change, and the therapist helps the client specifically discover their internal motivations to modify their behavior.