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 statement in a way that rephrases what the other person said, rather than simply repeating it. Remember, the reasons for using reflections are that 1) it lets the other person know you heard, and 2) confirms that you heard correctly.
Here are some examples.
Client: I really hate when my doctor tells me I’m obese and that I’m going to get sick if I don’t lose weight.
Clinician: You don’t like it when your doc talks to you about your weight.
OR
Clinician: You don’t think you are overweight.
In the first reflection, the clinician puts the emphasis on how the client feels about what she said. These two examples are simple reflections, but also move the conversations along in the direction of positive change.
Remember that forming reflections is an important skill in Motivational Interviewing. It takes time and practice to develop this skill, and it may seem awkward when you begin. I encourage you to keep working at it!
