There are lots of misconceptions out there about Motivational Interviewing (MI)! I thought I’d share some facts this week about what MI actually is!
Here are some basic facts about Motivational Interviewing!
1. MI is a conversation style. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative conversation style that strengthens a person’s own motivation and commitment to change. It’s a bit of a strange name. Many people hear the word “motivation” and think cheerleading, coaching or being the motivator for others. Co-creators Bill Miller & Steven Rollnick named it Motivational Interviewing because it is an interview- a conversation between two equal partners- that evokes the individual’s motivation for change.
2.MI is very different from persuasion. The problem is, we often turn to persuasion, advice-giving, and logic to try to help a person change. It’s a normal response to ambivalence to try to persuade! We know that when someone is ambivalent about change (and ambivalence is NORMAL!) trying to convince them to change usually evokes opposition to change. And that is absolutely what we want to avoid. Plus, persuading people to change is exhausting, and it doesn’t usually work.
3.MI is evidence-based. 1600 clinical trials, and counting. (That’s a heck of a lot). The first research on MI in the 1980’s demonstrated MI is more effective than advice-giving, and that even a few brief MI conversations can be as effective as 10 or more sessions involving other interventions, like CBT or 12 Step. Now, much of the research is centered around the use of MI with other interventions, including ways MI can amplify the effectiveness of interventions, AND MI is used across many, many different disciplines.
4.MI can be learned by anyone. There is no evidence that educational levels impact the ability for someone to learn MI. As Bill Miller has joked, “Even psychologists can learn it.” MI skills can be used by anyone and everyone. I integrate parts of MI into parenting. I recently ordered a book about integrating MI into parenting adolescents, as I am developing a course on MI for the layperson (targeted at those who have friends or family members struggling with mental health or substance misuse struggles).
5.MI is simple, but not easy to practice. The concepts of MI are straightforward and make sense. Unfortunately, that leads many people to feeling like they do it already. To truly integrate MI into practice, the learning journey takes commitment and time. It’s hard to stop persuading, advising and directly, PLUS use reflective listening, evocative questions, affirmations and summaries (OARS) to effectively guide the conversation toward change. Having said that, you can pick up some MI skills relatively quickly and they can be immediately impactful. And, to truly ‘do MI,’ is a commitment! (Shameless marketing plug- I offer beginning through advanced courses in MI! And the intermediate course begins 9/15!)
Motivational Interviewing Consideration of the Week: What do you already know to be true about MI? How do you practice avoiding persuasion when confronted with ambivalence? What areas of your life do you integrate MI skills into? Who do you know who might benefit from learning more about MI? You are welcome to share this!
