What is Motivational Interviewing? It’s begins with Your Presence of Being

I was talking with someone recently who worked as a chaplain at a hospital. They were talking about documentation, and in their electronic chart for case notes, there was a drop down menu that offered “presence of being” as an intervention that they could select.  

Presence of being as an intervention.

What a beautiful way to think about what we are doing as Motivational Interviewers! 

We are first and foremost focused on our presence of being, sitting with someone with our whole bodies and mind, practicing deep curiosity and empathy for that person, tuning in and listening to what they are saying.

We approach clients with curiosity, non-judgment, compassion and acceptance of who they are and where they are in their journey. 

The spirit of Motivational Interviewing includes having the heartset and mindset as a provider of acceptance, compassion, partnership and empowerment. 

Embodying the spirit of Motivational Interviewing is our “presence of being.” And of course, Motivational Interviewing is more than just a presence of being. Motivational Interviewing is a conversation style used to help someone move from being stuck in ambivalence to moving towards the growth and change that they want. 

Still, I love this anchor– to think first and foremost as providing our clients with a presence of being– in this garden we can begin to help them grow the change they are seeking.

MI Tip of the Week: One of my favorite slogans is, “Let it begin with me.”  Motivational Interviewing begins with the quality of presence you bring to the conversation. It’s about deep listening, attuned presence, and empathy. Consider the qualities of presence you bring to encounters with your clients that relay compassion, acceptance, partnership and empowerment. 

Watch my full video here!