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MI Blog
WHY Learn Motivational Interviewing?
Learning Motivational Interviewing (MI) is valuable because it changes how you communicate with people, not just what you say. Rather than trying to persuade, convince, or "fix" someone, MI helps people discover and strengthen their own reasons for change. [...]
What to Focus on in Motivational Interviewing
As a long-time trainer and coach, I frequently hear learners say, “I just need to study it more,” or “I don’t know what to focus on.” Since Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a complex language, those statements ring true. So what [...]
Regulating your “Fixing Reflex”
The fixing reflex (formerly called the righting reflex) is that internal reaction where you immediately think: “Here’s what you should do.” “Let me tell you how to solve that.” In Motivational Interviewing, practitioners try not to jump straight into advice. Instead, [...]
Need a Refresh on your MI Skills?
I frequently hear at my workshops “I went to a webinar on MI and I’m just here for a refresh.” I silently cringe inside since as a trainer of 20 years I believe MI to be [...]
The Heart of Motivational Interviewing
As a trainer of MI for almost 20 years I am constantly thinking about how to train and teach this challenging language. Recently I came up with what I think is the heart of MI in [...]
Want to Save Time? Consider the Recency Effect
Do you subscribe to the “recency effect?” It’s a helpful concept to remember as you are speaking with a client. Although it’s simple it’s frequently under used. A client will talk about the last thing you [...]
Are you Someone Good To Talk To?
I recently heard Helen Mentha, fellow MI Trainer, speak at our annual conference in Copenhagen. During COVID she decided to put her heart into writing some blogs on MI and see where it led to. She ended [...]
Are you a Skilled Guide Towards Change?
I recently heard Stephen Rollnick, co-author of Motivational Interviewing, ask this question: “What does a skilled guide do and what types of questions do they ask?” A good question might look like: “Where do you want [...]
Autonomy – The Underused Tool in MI
Many of us went into the helping profession since we want to help others achieve health and well-being. Unfortunately, this “helper instinct” as Bill Miller (co-author of MI) states can get in the way of that [...]
Are you Spoiling your Reflections?
Your employer signs you up for a Motivational Interviewing (MI) training or you just attend since you are intrigued by what you have heard about this language and its efficacy with behavior change. You learn one [...]
Are you Directive or Directional?
What IS the difference between being directive versus directional in your conversations with clients? In the latest Motivational Interviewing Forum co-author of MI Bill Miller discussed how essential directional statements are to change. In motivational interviewing [...]
Are you Cuddling the Problem?
Recently in the world of Motivational Interviewing the authors of the coding system (MITI 4.2.1) are asking this question. What does “cuddling the problem” look like and how does it change the direction of the session? [...]
