Brief interventions, addressing and enhancing motivation to change, were developed by clinical researchers as shorter term and less extensive treatment for substance abuse problems or addictive behaviors. These brief interventions, such as motivational enhancement have made a significant impact. Brief intervention has the singular focus of targeting problematic behaviors in a certain systematic and specific manner. The common elements of brief interventions are feedback or assessment, responsibility for change, advice on change, menu of options, empathy through behaviors, and self-efficacy, known as FRAMES. The brief intervention, motivational enhancement is grounded in client-centered therapy, social learning theory, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. In this intervention, the treatment provider uses specific techniques to facilitate identification and recognition of problematic behavior and to help the individual move toward change; an empathic style is demonstrated. Results of several studies with adolescents and college students have shown positive results in the use of motivational enhancement which stem primarily from reductions in alcohol-related problems and reductions in drinking. In order to translate and export the effective research into practice, additional research is necessary in examining the essential elements of motivational interventions, such as for whom do they work best and their impact on developmental transitions during adolescence.