Author Archives: Eunice Okumu

In this MI blog, we have focused on many important aspects of MI including techniques, processes, spirit, and ambivalence. What we haven’t talked about much is “What MI is NOT” and clarifying some things related to MI that may be confusing. For example, when working with a client, the clinician...

When Motivational Interviewing was first introduced, there was a great deal of focus on specific techniques that would support the client in exploring behavior change. However, Rollnick and Miller (1995) felt like something was missing as they went around and trained people. They felt like they had taught people the...

In a conversation about change with our clients, we are attempting to guide them towards making meaningful change in their lives that is sustainable. And as we all know, there will be some ambivalence along the way that needs to be worked through for this change to occur. How are...

Engaging is the first of the four processes in MI (engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning) and lays the groundwork for the first session and the sessions to follow. And as you likely know from experience, engagement can occur with some clients in a matter of minutes, and with other clients,...

We continue with our “conversations about change” and focus this month on what we do after we go to a MI training or receive some exposure to MI. What we know from our own experience, and from research, is that continued practicing, coaching, and feedback is essential for us to...

In our most recent blogs, we have been discussing how to engage with the client and guide them in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. And when we engage with the client in a genuine manner, this often leads to a smooth transition into the next process in MI: Focusing. Both...

When the clinician begins meeting with the client, and rapport is being established, it may become clear as to what is going to be the focus of the session or sessions. However, sometimes it may take some time to determine where things are headed. And it can be confusing for...

When we think about the way we want to be with a client, I think we would all agree that we would like to acknowledge and recognize their inherent worth and strengths. And each client we work with will have specific strengths that we will be able to genuinely acknowledge....

Whether we are working with someone as they explore the reasons they do not want to escape (and go back to using substances) during the COVID-19 crisis or someone who is thinking about changing careers, some basic MI skills are important to consider. One of the most important skills we...

Affirmations are used when we acknowledge and recognize an individual’s strengths and effort; where the statements we say to a client matter to them and are genuine. Affirmations are not praise like “good job” but rather, they are very specific about how a client has perhaps persevered, or prioritized making...

The definition below provides an excellent overview of the philosophy of MI, and the atmosphere that best supports an individual contemplating a change in their lives: Motivational Interviewing is a person-centered counseling style for addressing the common problem of ambivalence about change. It is designed to strengthen an individual’s motivation...

Listening can appear to be a very passive experience, but if you really want to listen, and offer a reflection back to a client as you attempt to understand what they are attempting to communicate, it can take quite a while to become very skilled at having these reflections come...