Sharing Concerns or Giving Information with Motivational Interviewing
Don’t persuade. Don’t argue for change. Don’t give unsolicited advice.
Sometimes providers wonder, “Well, what can I do? Can I share a concern I have with a client?” Or, “But it’s a requirement of my job to tell them XYZ, how do I do that?”
We can share our thoughts or concerns, but we do this embedded in a couple of MI tools.
Motivational Interviewing has a cool acronym for it.
Ask-Offer-Ask
Ask means elicit first! What do they already know about _____. What concerns do they have? What are they aware might occur. For many clients, they already know whatever you need to tell them, so it’s just the decent thing to do to ask what they know before treating them like an information receptacle. Plus, it honors them and brings them into the conversation in a collaborative manner.
Offer means provide what you gotta provide! If it’s required information, beginning with, “I need to go over a few things with you.” Then, share your XYZ! If it’s a concern or opinion or advice you want to offer, then do this important thing first. ASK FOR PERMISSION. “May I share a concern?” “Would you like my opinion?” “Can I offer some advice?” If they say yes, you may proceed with sharing.
Then…
Ask again. This is key in Motivational Interviewing because you are relaying that their opinion matters more than yours. They get to make whatever they want to make out of what you just offered. This is their dilemma anyhow! “What do you make of what I just shared?” “How might this fit or not fit for you?” “What do you think you’ll do with this information?”
Motivational Interviewing Tip of the Week: When you have information to give, a concern to share, or a requirement of something to review with them, try this acronym out! Ask-Offer-Ask. Ask what they already know first! Then, ask permission to share and offer that information, advice or concern. Don’t forget the final ask and check in with what they think about what you shared! Remember, this is their dilemma they are wrestling with.
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Hi, I’m Hillary Bolter. At MI Center for Change, Motivational Interviewing is our passion. Motivational Interviewing will help you become more effective and efficient as you support clients’ change!
