Weight Watchers or “Self Compassion”? This was originally published in the CommonHealth Blog of WBUR, Boston’s NPR radio station. This article is in response to the death in April of Jean Nidetch, the founder of Weight Watchers. This article was written by my friend and colleague, Jean Fain, author of The Self Compassion Diet . As […]
Are You Trained in Motivational Interviewing?
I often talk with other professionals about MI, either casually or in my trainings, and hear “Oh, I’m already doing that stuff with my patients”. I think they are confusing warmth and caring with all of MI. Certainly warmth and caring are an important part of MI, but not the whole story. When you dig […]
On Vulnerability and Creativity
I recently attended a program at my Temple Shalom of Newton, where I am a member. This program was for Slichot, which is the time before the high holidays, the Jewish New Year and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. During this time, we prepare to consider our actions during the past year, to take […]
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 […]
The Role of Patience in Motivational Interviewing
Lately, I’ve been thinking about patience. We are awaiting the birth of my third grandchild, a boy. It’s really hard to wait! My daughter is uncomfortable and ready for this to be over. Naturally, as a mother, I’m concerned and a little anxious that this all go well, and everyone be healthy. Patience is often hard, and […]
