Motivational Interviewing: Conversations about Change: Strengthening Commitment in Planning

Another way we can strengthen commitment in planning is to simply trust the process of the tasks of MI. The tasks of MI provide an excellent structure for a session, and it naturally allows for change talk to be reinforced and guides the client towards their goals. In particular, the planning task provides an opportunity …

Motivational Interviewing: Conversations about Change: Strengthening Commitment in Planning

There are many ways to create a change plan and it is exciting when a client is very motivated to make this happen. However, it is also important to make sure the plan is reasonable and there are possible sub-goals along the way. We discussed this in an earlier blog since a client may have …

Motivational Interviewing: Conversations about Change: Several Clear Options in Planning

There is one final conversation to have with your clients before they are ready to move forward with their change plan. The last discussion to have involves considering what obstacles may come up along the way. Thinking ahead and preparing for how to address certain situations can be an extremely important conversation to have. Of …

Motivational Interviewing: Conversations about Change: Several Clear Options in Planning

Exploring the plan the client would like to implement can be a very powerful experience because the client takes ownership of what they think will work best. Since the client knows themselves better than anyone else, they are in the best position to decide what plan to pursue first. This can also be a time …

Motivational Interviewing: Conversations about Change: Several Clear Options in Planning

Now that the list of options has been created by the client and clinician, it is time to talk about where the best place will be to start. This provides a great opportunity for the clinician to trust that the client knows themselves better than anyone else and the best plan forward for them. By …

Motivational Interviewing: Conversations about Change: Several Clear Options in Planning

Once we have confirmed the goal, and any subgoals along the way, we are now ready to itemize the options or list what has been discussed in counseling sessions. The counselor may be supportive in sharing back to the client some of the options that have been named in previous sessions. In this part of …

Motivational Interviewing: Conversations about Change: Several Clear Options in Planning

The planning process can go in many directions. Previously, we explored the planning process when there was a clear path forward. What if there are several options that seem worthwhile to pursue? In this scenario, the goal of the clinician is to help facilitate the client in prioritizing them and making a choice. It can …

Motivational Interviewing: Conversations about Change: Troubleshooting and Planning

As we continue our discussion of the planning process, one strategy to assist the client in achieving their desired outcome is to explore any possible obstacles or challenges that might come up. If these questions are asked, the client is likely to respond with a great deal of change talk. When momentum has been established, …

Motivational Interviewing: Conversations about Change: Planning Activation

In our previous blog, we focused on a scenario where the client was clear on their plan moving forward. It involved a smoker who was ready to quit. The client had a plan to go to a cabin for a week and take everything they needed except for cigarettes. It can be very exciting when …

Motivational Interviewing: Conversations about Change: Planning Scenarios

When we arrive with our clients at the planning process, there are conversations that need to be had about how to move forward. For some clients, it may be very clear how to proceed because they have tried to change the same behavior in the past. Other clients may have several options to choose from …