Language & Focus Matters in Motivational Interviewing

Whether you work directly in nutrition and fitness or not, nearly ALL of our clients will bring up diet, food, nutrition, and exercise at some point. 

And we know that how we respond matters!

Do we inadvertently reinforce diet culture messages, or accidentally bring our own experience or bias into the conversation? How do we determine a collaborative focus that is in the best interest of the client?

Many professionals in health and wellness fields may not recognize the ways in which language and practice can reinforce diet culture. Supporting the pursuit of weight loss can contribute to disordered eating patterns, yo-yo dieting/weight cycling, and weight stigma. 

Without conscious reflection, even MI practitioners may inadvertently reinforce these messages, causing further harm.

Weight-neutral or weight-inclusive approaches offer another way forward, by taking the focus off of weight outcomes, and instead focusing on sustainable changes that honor health and well-being. 

So whether you work directly in health coaching, dietetics or an adjacent field, I invite you to consider the ways we influence the direction of conversation on this topic!

I am super excited to host Dawn Clifford, PhD, RD (co-author of the book Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition and Fitness) and Angelina Moore Maia, PhD, RDN, LDN for a 1-hour FREE virtual webinar on this topic. They will include tangible strategies for applying weight-inclusive practices in to motivational interviewing sessions. Participants will explore how MI can help practitioners hold space for their client’s desire for weight loss while also discussing the benefits of moving away from a dieting mindset.

Sign up to attend live, or for recording access if you cannot attend the live event!

Motivational Interviewing Tip of the Week: Motivational Interviewing is a guiding style of conversation that helps our clients move toward change. And, we have to be careful about the direction we are influencing towards! When it comes to diet culture versus weight-inclusive practices, I invite you to consider the ways we reground into working in the best interest of the client by unpacking the pieces that influence that!