MI Doesn’t Just Mean OARS: MINT training Motivational Interviewing

Hello! I’m Chris Miles, lead trainer for MI Center for Change. I’m a member of the MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers), and here at MI Center for Change we provide MINT training in Motivational Interviewing.

Beginners in Motivational Interviewing often think MI means using OARS skills.

They may believe that they are “doing MI” if they are using Reflections or asking Open-ended Questions, for example. 

OARS (Open-ended Questions, Affirmations, Reflections, and Summaries) are the micro-skills of Motivational Interviewing. But using OARS, even effectively and skillfully, does not mean you are providing MI.

Motivational Interviewing requires engagement in 3 components at the same time: Spirit, OARS, and guidance toward Change Talk.

We must utilize all three of the following for the conversation to actually be considered Motivational Interviewing.

Three Components of MI:

1. Maintaining the Spirit of MI (Compassion, Acceptance, Partnership, Evocation)
2. Using OARS skills
3. Listening for/pulling for/reflecting a client’s Change Talk (language supporting change)

It’s not easy to do all three at the same time! That’s why it’s so important to take MINT training in Motivational Interviewing! MINT members are skilled at not just teaching one element of MI, but integrating these three essential elements.

For example, 

• A well-formed, accurate reflection that reinforces Change Talk could be given to a client, but if it is delivered with sarcasm, then it doesn’t include the Spirit of MI.
• OARS skills delivered with empathy, acceptance, and positive regard with the goal of allowing a grieving client to express feelings may not include the need to direct toward Change Talk.
• An intake conversation that only focuses on using close-ended questions to collect information regarding a client’s goals regarding lifestyle changes can take place without the use of OARS skills (albeit, very limiting).

OARS is simply the vehicle for relaying the spirit and evoking Change Talk. We offer mint training motivational interviewing at MI Center for Change! Check out our courses!

Motivational Interviewing Tip of the Week: When it feels like Motivational Interviewing could be helpful in a conversation, remember to utilize those OARS skills with the intention of helping your client resolve ambivalence about change, all while maintaining that MI Spirit! ​​​​​​​

Coming up next, your MI Tip of the Week will focus on targeted OARS! Stay tuned for deeper dives into each of the OARS skills!

Watch my full video here!