As practitioners working with patients with inflammatory bowel disease, it is important that we have a fundamental understanding of the risk factors associated with nonadherence. Only in doing so will we be able to design an efficacious theory-based intervention to ameliorate nonadherence. However, the question remains as to what to do in the mean time as practitioners to assist our patients in becoming more collaborative and adherent. Motivational interviewing (MI) was first introduced nearly 30 years ago and continues to attract attention among clinicians and researchers. We know very little about the mechanisms for change and how MI can be adapted to these mechanisms, but MI is more than just a behavioural strategy to elicit and reinforce change talk. It is about helping patients lead satisfying lives and choosing activities to help them foster their goals. Although MI might seem like a time-consuming process, it can prove useful in eliciting how we can best help our patients to bring about the change they need.