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 we try to stay neutral in giving “directions” toward a specific outcome as it is human nature not to […]
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? If a client states: “I know I should drink less, but it’s the only way I know how to […]
How do you get to the why of someone’s motivation for change? WHY is a tricky word since asking why can be shaming depending on how you frame it. Rather than asking why do you do that (addiction, behavior challenges, etc.) try asking when things are working what helps or what makes this change important […]
We are trained as professionals to see and pay attention to what’s wrong and help with change. Unfortunately this way of being can actually make clients less likely to change. In the spirit of Motivational Interviewing we are instead paying close attention to what a client is striving for their strengths, efforts and values – […]
You’ve just bought a beautiful bouquet of flowers and are heading home. What’s the first thing you do before putting them into a vase to enjoy? You take off the wrapping, pull out your scissors and cut off the stems so they have the best chance of survival for the week. Then you put the […]