High levels of empathy are key to the MI guiding style. Empathy has been misunderstood as the expression or demonstration of kindness, agreement, acceptance, or concern for the patient. It is more than that. Empathy is not sympathy, ”poor you”, nor is it “I’ve had the same problem”. In Motivational Interviewing, empathy is simply the demonstration of a keen but neutral curiosity for […]
Managing Patient “Resistance” with MI
If your work involves helping people change their behavior, you have probably encountered a “resistant” client. I put the word in quotes because it implies there is something wrong with them. They are resisting something they should want to change and it’s so very clear to you that it’s true. In Motivational Interviewing, we assume […]
[Guest Blog] “It Worked Before…” by Aaron Flores, RDN
It’s something I hear all the time as people come into my office or talk to me about losing weight. They say, “Well I just need to go back to what I was doing a couple of years ago, it worked before…” There are, of course variations on the theme. Maybe someone will say, “I […]
What If You Ask for Permission and Don’t Get It?
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 […]
Using Your Hunger and Fullness Signals to Manage Your Weight
Using Your Hunger and Fullness Signals to Manage Your Weight Whether you want to lose weight or maintain the weight you’re at, you have the internal mechanism to tell you when to eat and when to stop. The truth is that this internal “regulator” is the most powerful tool to help you manage your weight. […]
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