We continue this week with the third 鈥減rocess鈥� of Motivational Interviewing, Evoking. In our last post, we talked about the client strengthening their motivation for change. This change for the individual could be related to desire, ability, reasons, or need.
The practice for the counselor is to not only recognize the 鈥渃hange talk鈥� but also to know how to respond to it when it occurs. If this is done skillfully, you will often hear the counselor respond with a Reflection followed by an Open-ended question (part of the communication skills of OARS).
Examples of ways to respond to 鈥渃hange talk鈥� are below:
What we, as practitioners, may also hear is 鈥渟ustain talk鈥� or language from the client indicating that they want to maintain the 鈥渟tatus quo鈥� and are less interested and/or confident in changing their behavior.
Here are examples of ways to respond to 鈥渟ustain talk鈥�:
The skill of listening for 鈥渃hange talk鈥� and 鈥渟ustain talk鈥� can be challenging, but practicing can lead the client in the direction of strengthening their motivation, and eventually to 鈥渞eal鈥� and 鈥渟ustainable鈥� change.
Charts provided by Cathy Cole Training, Inc.
For more information about motivational interviewing or related services, contact Eunice Akinyi Okumu, by phone (919) 843-2532, or by email, eunice_okumu@med.unc.edu