Motivational Interviewing is a client-centered, directive method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by helping the client explore and resolve ambivalence. We might say MI is semi-directive because we direct the client by influencing and inviting the conversation to continue in a certain direction. A Variety of MI skills (OARS) can be used to help direct the client away from resistance talk and toward change talk. In the module we provide multiple opportunities to test your understanding as we explain in depth the “semi-directive” nature of Motivational Interviewing.

Directive Summaries

Summaries can play an important role in responding to and reinforcing change talk. We explain the three different types of summaries that can be used in a directive way and when to use them: Collecting Summary, Linking Summary, and Transitional Summary. When offering a summary to a client, summarize a little problem talk and then a lot of change talk to ensure that the change talk is reinforced, but you must pick out what is important to include. we provide some examples to help your understanding of how to build a good summary and allow you to practice writing your own to compare with the answer that is given.

Directive Reflections

Skillful reflecting is MI’s primary method of being both client-centered and directive. A skillful reflection follows the clients lead and responds to what they are saying, while at the same time selectively picking out aspects that may help steer the client to explore a certain direction. The choices we make about what and how to reflect from client statements will depend upon where the client is in terms of the MI processes. We explain the four MI processes of Engaging, Focusing, Evoking, and planning. We also an explanation and examples of how the purpose of our reflection will differ according to which of these four processes we are trying to facilitate.

Protecting the Negative and Consolidating Commitment

There are two other strategies we can use in our conversations that can be served by directive reflecting. Protecting the Negative can be used to ensure that you are not inviting more resistance talk by reflecting their problem talk to show that we are not jumping to change talk. Consolidating Commitment uses reflections in a way that invites the client to be more specific about commitment talk. We provide examples of client statements and ask you to pick the appropriate response for each of the two Motivational Interviewing strategies.

Please Note : As part of our content licensing agreement, these Motivational Interviewing courses are intended only for those practicing or providing services in Michigan, and only provide CEUs valid to Michigan providers. By enrolling in these courses you certify that you meet this criteria.

1. You will complete a review of responding to and reinforcing change talk.
2. You will be able to explain the value to the semi-directive nature of Motivational Interviewing.
3. You will be able to recognize the difference between a collecting summary versus a transitional summary.
4. You will be able to recognize how reflections can change to complement the four (4) processes of MI (Engage, Focus, Evoke, and Plan.)
5. You will be able to explain the Motivational Interviewing strategy of "protect the negative" and be able to describe how it is used to help the beginning of a client-staff relationship.