Reflections on Motivational Interviewing

1. Reflections on Motivational Interviewing Cardiff September 27, 2011

2. 1983

3. MI-1 1991

4. MI-2 2002

5. 2008

6. MI-3 2012

7. MI-4 2022

9. X Generalized Principles of MI Express Empathy Develop Discrepancy Avoid Argumentation Roll with Resistance Support Self-Efficacy

10. X Two Phases of MI Phase 1 Strengthen motivation for change Phase 2 Consolidate commitment to change

11. RESISTANCE

12. The Underlying Spirit of MI Partnership Evocation Acceptance Compassion

13. Change is Broader than Behavior • Decision – to make a choice • Forgiveness, Leaving or staying • Attitude - to become a different person • To be more Compassionate, Assertive etc. • Resolution - Acceptance • Complicated grief • Finding peace regarding a decision • Tolerance for anxiety, uncertainty etc.

14. Four Fundamental Processes in MI

15. Relational Motivational Foundation Interviewing 1. Engaging 2. Focusing 3. Evoking 4. Planning

16. The processes are somewhat linear ... . • Engaging necessarily comes first • Focusing (identifying a change goal) is a prerequisite for Evoking • Planning is logically a later step Engage Focus Evoke Plan

17. . . . . and yet also recursive Engaging skills (and re-engaging) continue throughout MI Focusing is not a one-time event; re-focusing is needed, and focus may change Evoking can begin very early “Testing the water” on planning may indicate a need for more of the above

18. Four Foundational Processes

19. Is it MI Yet?

20. Can it be MI without . . . No No No Yes Engaging ? Focusing ? Evoking ? Planning ?

21. So it becomes MI when . . 1. The communication style and spirit involve person-centered, empathic listening (Engage) AND 2. There is a particular identified target for change that is the topic of conversation (Focus) AND 3. The interviewer is evoking the person’s own motivations (or plans) for change (Evoke)

22. A continuum of styles that can be used in all four processes

23. Core counseling skills that can be used in all four processes Open questions Affirmation Reflection Summary Offering information and advice

24. Direction Language “Directing” as a counselor behavior “Direction” as focus “Directional” (not “directive”) as a description of MI as goal-oriented

25. Three Essential Elements in any Definition of MI MI is a particular kind of conversation about change (counseling, therapy, consultation, method of communication) MI is collaborative (person-centered, partnership, honors autonomy, not expert-recipient) MI is evocative, seeks to call forth the person’s own motivation and commitment

26. Three levels of definition (of increasing specificity) 1. A layperson’s definition (What’s it for?) 2. A pragmatic practitioner’s definition (Why would I use it?) 3. A technical therapeutic definition (How does it work?) Definitions of MI

27. 1. A layperson’s definition(What’s it for?) Motivational interviewing is a collaborative conversation style for strengthening a person’s own motivation and commitment to change

28. 2. A pragmatic practitioner’s definition (Why would I use it?) Motivational interviewing is a person-centered counseling method for addressing the common problem of ambivalence about change

29. 3. A technical therapeutic definition (How does it work?) Motivational interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented style of communication with particular attention to the language of change. It is designed to strengthen personal motivation for and commitment to a specific goal by eliciting and exploring the person’s own reasons for change within an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion.

30. Counseling with Neutrality • Neutality is not a therapist attribute (like equanimity: composure, balance, emotional stability) • Neutrality is the conscious clinical decision to try not to influence a client’s direction of choice or change • Neutrality can be about: • Focusing (whether to pursue a change goal) • Planning (how to pursue a change goal)

31. Counselor Aspiration Should I proceed strategically to favor the resolution of the client’s ambivalence in a particular direction? or Do I want to maintain neutrality and not intentionally or inadvertently steer the person in one particular direction? MI was originally developed for the former situation

32. Engaging and Focusing Identification of Change Goal A conscious choice Aspiration Equipoise Evoking Planning Decisional Balance Both choices involve partnership, acceptance and compassion

33. Equipoise is where a classic decisional balance makes sense Giving intentionally balanced, equal attention to pros and cons in: Inquiry Elaboration Affirmation Reflection Summaries

34. 2 x 2 Decisional Balance Grid PROs and CONs of Change

35. Change Talk • Change talk is any client speech that favors movement in the direction of change • Previously called “self-motivational statements” (Miller & Rollnick, 1991) • Change talk is by definition linked to a particular behavior change goal DARN CATs

36. Preparatory Change TalkFour Examples DARN • DESIRE to change (want, like, wish . . ) • ABILITY to change (can, could . . ) • REASONS to change (if . . then) • NEED to change (need, have to, got to . .)

37. Mobilizing Change TalkReflects resolution of ambivalence CATs • COMMITMENT (intention, decision, promise) • ACTIVATION (willing, ready, preparing) • TAKING STEPS

38. Yet another metaphor MI Hill Preparatory Change Talk Mobilizing Change Talk Preparation Action (Pre-) Contemplation

39. Responding to Change TalkAll EARS E: Elaborating: Asking for elaboration, more detail, in what ways, an example, etc. A: Affirming – commenting positively on the person’s statement R: Reflecting, continuing the paragraph, etc. S: Summarizing – collecting bouquets of change talk

40. Change Talk and Sustain Talk Opposite Sides of a Coin

41. Examples of Sustain TalkThe other side of ambivalence I really like marijuana (D) I don’t see how I could give up pot (A) I have to smoke to be creative (R) I don’t think I need to quit (N) I intend to keep smoking and (C) nobody can stop me I’m not ready to quit (A) I went back to smoking this week (T)

42. What is “Resistance”? Sustain Talk Discord X

43. Sustain Talk and Discord • Sustain Talk is about the target behavior • I really don’t want to stop smoking • I have to have my pills to make it through the day • Discord is about your relationship • You can’t make me quit • You don’t understand how hard it is for me • Both are highly responsive to counselor style

44. What is Discord? Behavior Interpersonal (It takes two to have discord) A signal of dissonance in your relationship Predictive of (non)change

45. Some Discord Signals • Defensiveness • Arguing • Challenging Discounting Hostility • Interrupting • Talking over the counselor • Ignoring • Inattention Changing the subject

46. MI in Child Protection Services

47. Dual Roles in CPS • To facilitate change in the caregivers • To protect and serve the children’s best interests Similar to dual roles in probation/parole Fulfilling role #1 serves role #2

48. The Righting Reflex • “Righting” is serious business in CPS • Passion or anxiety to protect can easily create an adversarial role in which: • The worker advocates for change • The client is defensive and “resistive” • This is the quintessential clinical dilemma for which MI was developed

49. Engaging • An early and important task in MI • Promoted primarily by OARS • Can occur relatively quickly • An opposite style from fact-questioning • Research question: Does MI-based engaging yield critical information more honestly and quickly than asking questions?

50. Focusing • Sometimes the worker must set the focus: • Violence • Attending school • Substance abuse Challenge: How to avoid “rapid focus” problems and unconstructive adversarial interactions when you must address it? One key: Engage first