Our most recent blogs have been focused on building confidence with our clients using the approaches of open questions, confidence rulers, affirming strengths, and reviewing past successes. In addition, last month we reviewed the techniques of reframing and hypothetical thinking. These are great options for building confidence but what if the client is expressing some confidence related to creating change in their life? The goal would be to support and strengthen this talk. There are many ways to do this and we can follow our OARS by asking open questions to elaborate and share examples, affirming strengths and abilities, reflecting all confidence statements, and summarizing any self-confidence statements made by the client and their hope for change.
By responding in these ways, the client will likely continue to speak not only about the change they would like to experience but also how they would likely go about doing it. And when the clinician is hearing this talk, and it feels like there is momentum building, it can also be a good time to encourage more confidence talk by asking questions about any challenges the client may encounter along the way. Miller and Rollnick suggest asking these types of questions below:
鈥淲hat might you do if鈥︹��
鈥淗ow could you respond if鈥︹��
鈥淲hat do you think would happen if鈥︹��
These questions will not only support and strengthen more confidence and change talk but the seeds will be planted for how to handle any challenging situations should they arise moving forward. Oftentimes, a clinician may propose solutions to a problem the client is experiencing, only for the client to point out the numerous reasons why a particular solution will not work. Give this approach a try and see how it goes.
We have explored and discussed numerous approaches to help the client build confidence and today we looked at how to support our clients when they are speaking about change and how they would actually put their ideas into reality. By supporting and strengthening confidence talk with our OARS, we can build on the momentum. And once we feel like there is good momentum, we can even ask questions about how they would handle any challenges that might come up.
Next month, an example of enhancing confidence talk will be presented. We will review some of the key components and see how it plays out in a session between and clinician and a client. I hope everyone is doing as well as possible and you have opportunities to use and practice motivational interviewing. Take good care!
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
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