CRC Motivational Interviewing Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What distinguishes 'preparatory change talk' from 'mobilizing change talk'?
- Preparatory talk is about barriers; mobilizing talk is about strengths
- Preparatory talk expresses desire/ability/reasons/need; mobilizing talk signals commitment/activation/taking steps (Correct answer)
- Preparatory talk is more advanced than mobilizing talk
- Preparatory talk requires confrontation; mobilizing talk does not
Correct 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.
Question 2: A coach says, 'It sounds like you're worried that quitting might affect your social life.' This is an example of:
- Closed question
- Affirmation
- Reflective listening (Correct answer)
- Giving advice
Correct answer: Reflective listening
This statement reflects the emotional content underneath what the client has shared, demonstrating empathic understanding.
Question 3: When a client says, 'I've actually been cutting back on my own this week,' the MI-consistent response is to:
- Express concern that they cut back without a plan
- Reflect and explore this change talk about taking steps (Correct answer)
- Redirect to discuss their history of use
- Caution them not to get overconfident
Correct 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.
Question 4: The MI concept of 'discrepancy' refers to:
- The gap between the client's values and current behavior (Correct answer)
- The difference between the coach's goals and the client's goals
- The mismatch between the client's stated plan and their actual past behavior
- The inconsistency in what the client says across sessions
Correct 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.
Question 5: In MI, why should coaches avoid arguing for change while the client argues against it?
- It causes the client to feel judged
- It triggers the righting reflex in the coach
- Arguing for change causes the client to articulate sustain talk, strengthening it (Correct answer)
- It violates confidentiality standards
Correct 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.
Question 6: Which question best evokes 'need' change talk from a client?
- 'What do you enjoy about using?'
- 'How confident are you that you can change?'
- 'What would happen if things stayed exactly as they are?' (Correct answer)
- 'Who else has told you to change?'
Correct 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.
Question 7: A 'confidence ruler' question in MI specifically targets:
- How motivated the client is to change
- How confident the client is that they can change if they decide to (Correct answer)
- How satisfied the client is with the coaching relationship
- How ready the client is to start a formal treatment program
Correct 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.
CRC Motivational Interviewing Techniques 3
What distinguishes 'preparatory change talk' from 'mobilizing change talk'?