An important tenant of MI is that we do not tell others what to do. Who wants to be told what to do, anyway? Even kids don’t like it. Telling others what to do is often rude and disrespectful. Let me be very clear, however. If your job as a health care provider is to […]
The Power of the Meaning of Words in Motivational Interviewing
I’ve been an MI trainer for 8 years. When I first began learning the techniques of MI as a clinician, and then learned to run my own trainings, I thought I knew all I needed to know about MI I’ve since learned that something new comes up in almost every MI training that I conduct. Participants […]
Motivational Interviewing for Dietitians
Next week I have the distinct pleasure of conducting a Motivational Interviewing training for the dietetic interns in the Boston area. This is the fourth year in which I’ve offered this training, and it’s one of my favorites. When I was a dietetic intern in 1970-71, we were taught that our job was to “teach […]
Labeling Patients/Clients as “Non-Compliant
There’s an expression in traditional medical practice, which also includes nurses, dietitians, physical therapists, pharmacists and other providers who work with patients. Those who don’t take their medicines as prescribed, eat the right diet, exercise, and do all the other things we are told to do for our health. For many, this becomes a really […]
Using Motivational Interviewing for Leadership Training
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 […]
