Motivational Interviewing Training Online FREE, Plus 3 Tips Moving from Wrestling to Dancing with Your Clients

Join our newsletter to never miss our Motivational Interviewing Training Online Free!

I have more free motivational interviewing online resources for ya! Today, I’m sharing a free motivational interviewing download called Moving from Wrestling to Dancing.

When we are using MI, a conversation with a client should feel more like a dance than a wrestling match.

For me, when I feel my muscles tense and I am efforting in conversation, or verbally wrestling with a client as I try to champion change, it’s a cue for me to pull up my Motivational Interviewing skills. 

Three Tips for Moving From Wrestling to Dancing:

1. Do you find yourself more invested in the clients’ change than they are?

Yes, you really, really, really want to see this person be successful. Unless your client experiences the need and urgency to change, they won’t have the benefit of that fuel for change! Let go of your need for them to change, so they can pick it up! It may be helpful to say out loud, “This is up to you. I hear that this change is daunting, and I also hear you have a lot of reason to make this change.” This is an example of a statement supporting your clients’ autonomy– it’s their right to choose!

2. Are you working harder than your client?

Whose dilemma is this, anyhow? Yes, you want to help, but sometimes our drive to help causes us to take more responsibility for client change than is helpful. Relax back into your chair and begin to ask open-ended questions. “If you decided to make this change, where would you start?” “What would increase your confidence in your ability to make this change?” “Tell me about some other times you tackled something difficult.” Reflect their responses so they can hear their own motivation for change!

3. Are you finding yourself arguing FOR the change as they argue AGAINST it?

Arguing for change when a client is ambivalent often kicks up more resistance to change. Switch roles! Elicit their motivation for change. Try asking, “I wonder why would you want to make this change?” “What benefits do you see of making this change?” Reflect their responses to them. Perhaps it is helpful for you to accept where your client is right now, and tap into unconditional positive regard for them & their situation.

Motivational Interviewing Tip of the Week: If you find yourself squaring off with a client, or trying to wrestle them into making a chance, it’s a cue for you to shift! Stop wrestling! Which Motivational Interviewing tip will help you move from wrestling to dancing? Honor their autonomy; Ask open-ended questions; or elicit their motivation for change rather than imparting your motivation for them. If wrestling is happening, you can shift this to dancing by changing your conversation style. 

Don’t forget to check out our motivational interviewing training online free resources. We offer regular free MI training, and offer lots of free downloads and resources to support your MI learning journey!

Watch my full video here!