The Vampire Rule Applies To Motivational Interviewing

I was recently telling a new friend about Motivational Interviewing, and he asked, “Have you used Motivational Interviewing on me in conversation?”

I corrected him, “You don’t use Motivational Interviewing on someone, you use it with them.”

“Oh, so the Vampire Rule applies to Motivational Interviewing!” he exclaimed.

If you need a reminder of the Vampire “invitation rule,” the rule states that a vampire cannot enter a private residence without explicit permission.

So yes, the Vampire Rule does apply to Motivational Interviewing! We have to be invited in.

We don’t use Motivational Interviewing to get someone to do what we want them to do. We don’t use Motivational Interviewing as a sneaky technique to manipulate conversation.

We use Motivational Interviewing to support the change that a person wants to make, with intention & invitation.

The invitational nature of the Vampire Rule reminds us that we need to earn invitations from our clients through the 4 Tasks of Motivational Interviewing.

• Engagement: This first task of Motivational Interviewing is about building trust and rapport. The question of this task is, “Can we walk together?” Our client is asking us this question, and deciding if they will invite us in to their world. Our job in this task is to demonstrate humility, empathy, compassion, acceptance and invite a working partnership. 

• Focusing: The question of this task is, “Where are we going?” We continue to partner with clients on the goal or goals that they want to accomplish. We don’t decide this for them, just as we wouldn’t barge into their home and start rearranging furniture.

• Evoking: The question of this task is, “Why would you go there?” We take time to get to know the underlying drivers of motivation for our clients, before moving into planning. 

• Planning: If our client wants to move toward a change plan, we partner with them to support a plan that feels realistic. The question of this task is, “How would you get there?” Humility and curiosity play a role in all 4 tasks of Motivational Interviewing! 

So, as a reminder, we seek to be ‘invited in’ to the change journey with our clients! We do this by approaching the helping relationship through the spirit of Motivational Interviewing, using the OARS skills across these four tasks to support the change that they are seeking.

No sneaky vampire bites! Motivational Interviewing is supportive of autonomy & choice! 

Motivational Interviewing Tip of the Week: The Vampire Invitation Rule states that a vampire cannot enter a private residence without explicit permission. Motivational Interviewing is much the same! We use Motivational Interviewing with people (not on people), through invitation. Rooted in the spirit and ethical principals that support autonomy & choice, as Motivational Interviewers, we partner with people to support the changes that they want to make.