motivational interviewing

motivational interviewing is a collaborative conversation to strengthen a person's own motivation for and commitment to change.

principles

• express empathy

• develop discrepancy

• roll with resistance

• support self-efficacy

basic techniques -- to help you express empathy

• open questions

• affirmation

• reflective listening

• summary reflections

remember

• talk less than the distressed person does

• on average reflect (at least) twice for each question you ask

• when you reflect, use complex reflections more than half the time

• when you ask questions, ask mostly open-ended questions

• avoid getting ahead of the distressed person's readiness (warning, confronting, giving unwelcome advice or direction, taking the "good" side of an argument)

dreaming together -- to help them develop discrepancy and to support their self-efficacy

• "if you woke up tomorrow and all the problems and frustrations you're dealing with now were just gone, what would your day be like? help me imagine your dream day with you in detail..." -- this helps the person identify their own goals (not your goals for them) and develop discrepancy

• "If you woke up tomorrow and all these problems were as bad as they could possibly get, what would the day be like? help me imagine your nightmare day with you..." -- follow up after the day is very clear by asking "why haven't things gotten that bad yet?" -- this helps the person identify how they have been successfully coping and supports self-efficacy