Motivational Interviewing Techniques Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Motivational Interviewing Techniques flashcards as text
What distinguishes 'preparatory change talk' from 'mobilizing change talk'?
Answer: Preparatory talk expresses desire/ability/reasons/need; mobilizing talk signals commitment/activation/taking steps
DARN (desire, ability, reasons, need) is preparatory change talk, while CAT (commitment, activation, taking steps) reflects mobilizing change talk closer to action.
A coach says, 'It sounds like you're worried that quitting might affect your social life.' This is an example of:
Answer: Reflective listening
This statement reflects the emotional content underneath what the client has shared, demonstrating empathic understanding.
When a client says, 'I've actually been cutting back on my own this week,' the MI-consistent response is to:
Answer: Reflect and explore this change talk about taking steps
Taking steps is a form of mobilizing change talk, and the MI approach is to reinforce it with reflection and curiosity.
The MI concept of 'discrepancy' refers to:
Answer: The gap between the client's values and current behavior
Developing discrepancy highlights the distance between what the client values and how they are currently living, increasing motivation for change.
In MI, why should coaches avoid arguing for change while the client argues against it?
Answer: Arguing for change causes the client to articulate sustain talk, strengthening it
When clients argue against change in response to coaching pressure, they reinforce their own resistance—the opposite of the desired effect.
Which question best evokes 'need' change talk from a client?
Answer: 'What would happen if things stayed exactly as they are?'
Asking about the consequences of no change helps the client articulate their own felt need to make a change.
A 'confidence ruler' question in MI specifically targets:
Answer: How confident the client is that they can change if they decide to
The confidence ruler (0-10 scale) explores self-efficacy—the client's belief in their own ability to succeed at change.