In MI training, we emphasize asking permission, before you offer unasked for advice or change the subject. The obvious question, then is what happens if the client’s answer is NO? Here’s an opportunity to make a real connection with the client. A simple response is “Thank you, I really appreciate your honesty with me.” This […]
How Do People Lose Weight? An Apology From Me to My Past Clients
I’ve been a dietitian since 1971, and was trained to tell people what to do, what to eat, and prescribe diets. After 20 years of practice, I realized that almost no one had done what I told them to do, and if they had, they couldn’t keep doing it. So, all the people I counseled […]
What I Like Best About my Work
At this point in my career, I do three different types of work. First, I teach nutrition at Northeastern University in Boston, where I have worked for the past 13 years. I teach undergrads in one course and grad students in another. The second thing I do is provide training, consultation and coaching in Motivational […]
Using “Wiggle Words” in Motivational Interviewing
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 […]
