Motivational Interviewing was originally developed to help clinicians in working with patients and clients. The idea is that the patient has free will, and can choose whether or not to change behavior. The goal of MI is to help the other person clarify their goals and values, and decide if their behavior is in line […]
Motivation to Change Habits May Not Be Enough
I learned many interesting ideas about MI at the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) conference I attended in September. Dr. Bill Miller, one of the founders of MI gave a keynote address on MI and Social Justice. In this talk he spoke of volition, as defined in www.dictionary.com, “…the act of willing, choosing, or […]
Most of Us Don’t Really Like Change
When the topic of change comes up in conversations with others (clients of mine or not), I often hear “Oh, I really hate change!” People seem to think they hate change more than others, or have a “corner on the market” in disliking change and preferring the status quo. I think most of us don’t […]
Are we being “too lenient” when we use MI?
I was conducting an introductory Motivational Interviewing training for dietetic interns this spring, when one student asked me something really interesting. I was talking about the “spirit” of MI, in which we really listen to what our client is saying, and through reflective listening, help them to clarify their own goals and values regarding the […]
Does Using Reflections Sound Awkward to You?
When people are learning the basic skills of MI, they often ask “Doesn’t using reflections just sound like I’m repeating what they just said?” They feel it sounds awkward, and that the other person would just ask why they are repeating. The answer is that with increased skill, you learn how to make the reflective […]
