Ask Why Change!

Why not ask why?

So often when we meet a client, “Nice to meet you, what would you like to change?” We move right to a plan for how to get them there. We skip the why change! We move right from focusing to planning.

Motivational Interviewing’s heart lies in the evocation task, which means taking time (maybe even just a few minutes!) exploring their motivations for change.

Why is this change important to you now?

What are the reasons this change is key for you?

What are the needs generating this change?

How does this change bring you more in alignment with your values, goals, and who you are?

This is how we help folks fuel up their tank for the change task.

Check out our free MI Learning Library, which includes our MI Cheat Sheet for specific evoking change questions (and tons of other Motivational Interviewing downloads)!

We also have a section on the Values Card Sort, another Motivational Interviewing tool to elicit the connection between client values and change.

Motivational Interviewing Tip of the Week: Take a few moments to ask your clients why. Motivational Interviewing offers strategies for how to do this, including using our OARS skills to guide conversation in the direction of ‘why change.’ We know that the more people talk about change, the more likely they are to change, and helping connect them to their ‘why change’ is a big piece of this!