Motivational Interviewing: A Refresher on BLOCKS TO EFFECTIVE LISTENING
MOTIVATION NEWS
Published by Cathy Cole, MSSW, LCSW Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers September 2004 http://www.cathycoletrainging.com \"What People Need is a Good Listening To\" Mary Lou Casey
MOTIVATION NEWS TOPICS Motivational Interviewing---A Refresher on BLOCK TO EFFECTIVE LISTENING
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Welcome to Motivation News, a newsletter devoted to clinical information on the use of a Motivational Interviewing (MI) approach to change. The authors of this approach, William Miller, PhD and Stephen Rollnick, PhD define MI as a 'client centered, directive method for enhancing an intrinsic motivation for change by exploring and resolving ambivalence\". This collaborative approach to working with clients has wide application in coaching, mental health, addictions, health care and health education. Information in this newsletter is taken from various source material from the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and specifically from the book Motivational Interviewing, Preparing People for Change; Miller and Rollnick, 2nd edition, 2002, Guilford Press.
BLOCKS TO EFFECTIVE LISTENING In MI, particularly in the early stages of working with a client, heightened listening allows us to understand the client's situation and concerns and allows the client to explore this territory fully. This heightened provides the basis offorming reflections that can move the client along in increased motivation for change. Reflective listening is the cornerstone of MI. Thomas Gordon in the 70's in his Parent Effectiveness Training discussed the following responses as examples of not listening:
- Ordering, directing or commanding
- Warning, cautioning, or threatening
- Giving advice, making suggestions, providing solutions
- Persuading with arguing, logic or lecturing
- Telling people what they should do; moralizing
- Disagreeing, judging, criticizing, or blaming
- Agreeing, approving, or praising
- Shaming, ridiculing or labeling
- Interpreting or analyzing
- Reassuring, sympathizing or consoling
- Questioning or probing
- Withdrawing, distracting, humoring or changing the subject.
Now you ask..what's wrong with some of these, particularly praising, reassuring, etc and the answer is that many of these are used quite effectively and strategically in our work with clients. What we are considering is WHERE we are in our work with clients. Each time we are at a place of beginning with a client or in exploring a new concern, really attending to just listening and not interrupting the flow with some of the above responses can allow us and the client to have fuller awareness of the concern and the roadblocks for change. Clients can have enough roadblocks without our adding to them! Try this out sometime. Ask a friend, family member to just tell you a story about some interest or concern they have and then use these responses as they try to talk. Watch what happens! Ask the person for feedback on how it felt. Then, try it again and just listen. What a difference!
For more information on MI training and Cathy Cole visit http://www.cathycoletraining.com
Additional Educational Offerings: Onsite workshops: one or two day training in MI for agencies or educational consortiums
Onsite consultation: Preparing your agency for MI. Combining this with specific training for agency staff increases the effectiveness of implementing MI.
Advanced MI training: 8 one hour teleclasses for active case supervision and focus on MI skills or on site training for staff groups already trained in MI
MI Coaching: assessment of a taped client session with phone supervisory consultation.
For information on any of these MI trainings, send email to cathy@cathycoletraining.com
Cathy Cole, MSSW, LCSW is an educator and clinician.
She received her Masters of Science in Social Work from
the University of Tennessee and has maintained a varied clinical and
education practice throughout her career. Since her training in
Motivational Interviewing in 1995, she has provided extensive training.
For more information on Cathy visit http://www.cathycoletraining.com
To contact Cathy, use cathy@cathycoletraining.com
cathycoletraining Mission: to provide excellent education and coaching with a specific focus on exploring and resolving the natural ambivalence for change. Training in the use of Motivational Interviewing is offered on site or via teleconference. Contact Cathy at cathy@cathycoletraining.com for more information.
For more information on Motivational Interviewing, visit the web site http://www.motivationalinterview.org
(919) 967-9653 — 
cathy@cathycoletraining.com© 2009 Cathy Cole Training, Inc.