what exactly is motivational interviewing?
it’s a dance not a wrestling match
“a particular way of talking with people about change and growth to strengthen their own motivation and commitment.”
-Miller & Rollnick, 2023
person-centered, collaborative, guiding style of communication used to talk about behavior change.
evidence-based
There are over 2,000 clinical trials that back the notion that MI works to foster behavior change. What behavior changes, you ask? LOTS! Medication management, dental care, diabetes management, educational behaviors in schools, foster parent behavior, changing diet, smoking cessation. If it’s a human action, a behavior change, there is a place for motivational interviewing! Even those who use MI can receive feedback as to how well they are doing it, by a trained MI practitioner (such as Sarah!) who uses a validated and reliable measure to listen to and code their conversations.
rooted in psychological reactance.
You know when you tell someone what to do, they go ahead and don’t do it? Or worse yet, do the opposite? That’s psychological reactance. Only about 3% of people will actually do what you dictate for them to do. MI is this idea that instead of telling someone what to do, you get curious, step into empathy, and draw out their own reasons to make a change. But MI isn’t magic, so the skills must be learned, honed, crafted, and practiced.