Encouraging Change Talk
Encouraging Change Talk
Encouraging Change Talk
Counsel in a way that invites the person to make the arguments for change from the dimensions below: Common dimensions to ask about (DARN). Identify a target behavior. Desire - want, prefer, wish, etc. Ability - able, can, could, possible Reasons - specific arguments for change - Why do it? What would be good? Need - important, have to, need to, matter, got to Try to listen for Commitment language - the bottom line - This predicts actual change Four Basic Micro-skills: OARS
Ask OPEN questions - not short-answer, yes/no, or rhetorical questions AFFIRM the person - comment positively on strengths, effort, intention, REFLECT what the person says - active listening SUMMARIZE - draw together the persons own perspectives on change Reflective Listening: A Valuable Skill in Itself A reflection seeks to summarize what the person means; it makes a guess A good reflection is a statement, not a question Levels of reflection Repeat Direct restatement of what the person said Rephrase Saying the same thing in slightly different words Paraphrase Making a guess about meaning; continuing the paragraph; usually adds something that was not said directly Other types of reflection Double-sided reflection - Captures both sides of the ambivalence (... AND ...) Amplified reflection - Overstates what the person says
Eliciting Change Talk The simplest way: Ask for it, in open questions to elicit desire, ability, reasons, need In what ways would it be good for you to . . . .? If you did decide to . . . ., how would you do it? What would be the good things about . . . .? Why would you want to . . . .? The balance: What are the good things about . . . And what are the not so good things? Importance and Confidence rulers On a scale from 0 to 10, how important is it for you to . . . . . And why are you at ____ and not zero? (The answer is change talk) On a scale from 0 to 10, how confident are you that you could . . . . . And why are you at ____ and not zero? (The answer is ability talk) Looking forward If you dont make any change, what do you think will happen? Where would you like to be in ___ years? What do you hope will be different? And how does ____[smoking]____ fit into that? Group Word - Getting them engaged: Use these open-ended questions to encourage Change Talk
What is the goal you would like to achieve while you are here? What ways will attendance at ________ be helpful to you? What would make your time here interesting and useful for your goal? How can we partner with you to meet your goals?
Ask them to be in a group of 3 4 and process these questions at the outset of the discussion. Kate Speck, PhD, MAC, LADC Motivational Interviewing Worksheet - Handout