What Helps You Stay in the Spirit of MI?
Reading Time: < 1 minutesI asked this question of my Foundations of MI training cohort today. MI spirit refers to the attitude or presence we bring to our clients. MI defines spirit as acceptance, compassion, partnership, evocation....
When In Doubt, Reflect!
Reading Time: 2 minutesI hear from training participants all of the time how useful reflective listening is!! One shared, “Today was such a good reminder that when I’m getting pulled into trying to change a client, to sit back and reflect.” You may have heard me...
Is Your Advice Monster Alive and Well?
Reading Time: 2 minutesWhen someone comes to you for help, it’s pretty darn natural to give advice. In Motivational Interviewing, The Righting Reflex refers to our natural tendency to give advice, persuade or convince another person to change. It’s...
Motivational Interviewing, Vaccine Hesitancy & Client Autonomy
Reading Time: 2 minutesI know this is a sticky subject! And it is with much thought that I decided to weigh in here. I want to start this post with a reminder that embedded in Motivational Interviewing SPIRIT is honoring client autonomy. Our clients have the...
Why is it called Motivational Interviewing??
Reading Time: 2 minutesI had a hard time with the name ‘Motivational Interviewing’ initially. It sounded like a cheerleading kind of thing– is it about ME motivating my CLIENTS to change? That sounds like what I’m already trying to do and it’s exhausting!...
Hillary Bolter