MI guides

Motivational interviewing, one skill at a time.

What each skill is, what it sounds like in a real conversation, and a short drill so you can try it before your next one.

The core skills

MI guide · 6 minChange talk vs sustain talk: examples and DARN-CATLearn to hear change talk and sustain talk in MI, with DARN-CAT examples from clinics and workplaces, and how to respond to change talk using EARS.
MI guide · 6 minHow to practice motivational interviewing: exercisesMI training exercises that build skill: deliberate practice, peer role-plays, self-coding with MITI ideas, and where AI role-play helps or doesn't.
MI guide · 6 minHow to respond to sustain talk and resistance in MIHow to respond to sustain talk and discord in motivational interviewing: spot the righting reflex, then reflect, support autonomy and reframe rather than argue.
MI guide · 6 minOARS in motivational interviewing, with examplesOARS stands for open questions, affirmations, reflections and summaries. See each MI skill in real clinic and workplace dialogue, plus the mistakes to avoid.
MI guide · 6 minOpen-ended questions in MI: closed-to-open rewritesHow to ask open-ended questions in motivational interviewing, with closed-to-open rewrites for patient visits and one-on-ones, plus the traps that undo them.
MI guide · 6 minSimple vs complex reflections: MI examplesSimple and complex reflections in motivational interviewing, with examples: levels of reflection, double-sided reflections and continuing the paragraph.
MI guide · 7 minWhat is motivational interviewing? A practical guideMotivational interviewing is a way of talking about change that draws out a person's own reasons. Learn its spirit, the four processes, and where it fits.

For leaders

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Reflections, set 3

4 min