Category: Motivational Interviewing Blog

We are all familiar with the collaborative approach MI offers to the clinician and client. This approach helps to “level the playing field” and reduces hierarchy in the relationship. In addition, working collaboratively can build trust and rapport. The key is to make sure the client feels the support and...

The planning process can go in many directions. Previously, we explored the planning process when there was a clear path forward. What if there are several options that seem worthwhile to pursue? In this scenario, the goal of the clinician is to help facilitate the client in prioritizing them and...

Once we have confirmed the goal, and any subgoals along the way, we are now ready to itemize the options or list what has been discussed in counseling sessions. The counselor may be supportive in sharing back to the client some of the options that have been named in previous...

Now that the list of options has been created by the client and clinician, it is time to talk about where the best place will be to start. This provides a great opportunity for the clinician to trust that the client knows themselves better than anyone else and the best...

In our previous blog, we focused on a scenario where the client was clear on their plan moving forward. It involved a smoker who was ready to quit. The client had a plan to go to a cabin for a week and take everything they needed except for cigarettes. It...

As we continue our discussion of the planning process, one strategy to assist the client in achieving their desired outcome is to explore any possible obstacles or challenges that might come up. If these questions are asked, the client is likely to respond with a great deal of change talk....

In early counseling therapies and treatment, there were many approaches where the clinician attempted to convince the client to make healthier choices in their lives. If the clinician were able to ask appropriate questions, provide important information, encourage certain emotions, and persuade the client to see things in a certain...

When we arrive with our clients at the planning process, there are conversations that need to be had about how to move forward. For some clients, it may be very clear how to proceed because they have tried to change the same behavior in the past. Other clients may have...

This series of blogs has been focusing on counseling with neutrality and not guiding the client in any one direction. The clinician is allowing the client to make their own decision even if the process brings up a great deal of tension for both clinician and client. One approach that...

The process of creating a change plan continues to focus on change talk. This is very similar to the other processes that also includes collaboration, use of OARS, and movement towards change. We want to pay particular attention to the client’s words as they discuss how they would like things...

Exploring the plan the client would like to implement can be a very powerful experience because the client takes ownership of what they think will work best. Since the client knows themselves better than anyone else, they are in the best position to decide what plan to pursue first. This...

There is one final conversation to have with your clients before they are ready to move forward with their change plan. The last discussion to have involves considering what obstacles may come up along the way. Thinking ahead and preparing for how to address certain situations can be an extremely...