Learn about the basic principles of motivational interviewing (MI) and why it’s being used by allied health professionals all over the world. Watch how practitioner–patient interactions can be dramatically enhanced with the use of MI techniques, and walk away with practical strategies to start shifting the way you communicate.

The spirit of motivational interviewing refers to the underlying mindset of the practitioner. This chapter covers the four different components that MI practitioners aim to maintain when communicating with their patients in order to create a judgment-free environment for rehab and recovery.

In this session, MI practitioners will become more aware of the human tendency to inundate patients with facts, figures, and recommendations for change. Often attempts to pressure or persuade patients to change are ineffective and can even reduce practitioner–patient alliance. Learn how to shift your approach from the “I have all the answers” mindset toward empowering your patients to contemplate and problem-solve the various steps on their rehab journey.

Making a behavior change rarely happens in a linear fashion. It’s more common for patients to contemplate changes at first and then experience starts and stops as they attempt the changes. This chapter covers the different stages individuals go through on a typical behavior change journey, which will help the practitioner assess their patients’ readiness to change and better support their patients on the road ahead.

When you listen deeply, you will discover that much of what your patient shares falls into the categories of reasons in favor of sticking with their rehab or health-improvement plan and reasons against. Being able to enhance your patients’ motivation starts with hearing the words they use to describe their thoughts and feelings about setting up new patterns to support their recovery.

In this chapter, participants will learn how to be more strategic with their responses when their patients are on the fence about change. While there are many ways to respond to patients who are struggling to find motivation, some responses are more effective than others.

The use of verbal and nonverbal listening skills can dramatically enhance your patient’s clinic experience. Explore the benefits of reflections, affirmations, and summaries within the patient–practitioner interaction. Dialogue and demonstration examples provide evidence of how these active listening skills can strengthen the therapeutic alliance.

Mirroring back what the patient is saying can make the conversation feel stagnant and like you’re talking in circles. Learn how to incorporate complex reflections to enhance your interactions and communicate empathy and curiosity. When you incorporate complex reflections into your interactions with patients, you demonstrate a desire to truly understand your patients’ experiences in their rehab and recovery journey.

Learn how to tune your ears to hear your patients’ personal motivations for change and deliver reflective listening responses that highlight those reasons. Short, concise reflections of change talk can increase motivation for change and enhance the practitioner–patient relationship.

The best way to enhance your patient’s motivation is to ask for it. In this first chapter, you’ll learn how simply asking your patient why they care about their rehab journey can stir up the motivation needed to stick with their rehab plan.

When patients voice their personal motivations, they are more likely to make and sustain change. In this chapter, you’ll learn specific responses that encourage your patient to share more about their motivations for sticking with their rehab plan.

MI practitioners can use a variety of different questions to invite the client to explore their whys. In this chapter, you’ll learn the different types of questions that can be used to invite clients to share their personal motivations for change, with examples and strategies for incorporating this “why” conversation into all of your sessions.

Discover how to help your patients plan for change. Learn strategic questions that help patients fine-tune their action plan and map out the road ahead.

Helping your patients land on small, realistic goals can help facilitate the behavior change journey and boost their confidence for change. Learn how to ask the right questions that can guide your patients into setting specific action-oriented behavior change goals that fit their life.

At times, patients set goals and life gets in the way. Explore how to help patients troubleshoot barriers before they arise so that they’re prepared for the road ahead.

In this first chapter, learn about the various digital platforms being used to provide patient-centered care, evidence in support of a variety of technological approaches, and how motivational interviewing can enhance care when using these platforms.

With each technology-based platform, there are varying barriers that can arise that hinder communication and patient care. Learn about these barriers and strategies to mitigate these challenges to ultimately enhance your interactions with patients when using these platforms.

This chapter includes tips for aligning your communication style with motivational interviewing when you only have a few minutes for a brief patient interaction, whether that be over the phone, video conference, or messaging.