MI MINDSET
TALKING TO YOURSELF DIFFERENTLY (OARS)
CHANGE TALK (DARN)
STAGES OF CHANGE
USING MI IRL
100

The MI idea that it’s normal to feel two ways about change.

What is ambivalence?

100

These are the types of questions that help you explore rather than give yes/no answers.

What are open-ended questions?

100

Change talk that expresses wanting or wishing for change.

What is Desire?

100

The stage where someone is getting ready and making a plan.

What is preparation?

100

The MI idea of moving forward at your own speed.

What is pacing?

200

Where motivation for change comes from in MI.

What is inside yourself?

200

Noticing your own effort, values, or strengths is called this.

What are affirmations?

200

Change talk that sounds like “I could” or “I might be able to.”

What is Ability?

200

The stage where change is actively happening.

What is action?

200

The things that matter most to you, that choosing change tends to be based on.

What are values?

300

The MI belief that change works better when it isn’t forced.

What is autonomy?

300

Repeating or paraphrasing your own thoughts to understand them better.

What are reflections?

300

Change talk that explains why change matters.

What are Reasons?

300

The stage where someone isn’t really considering change yet.

What is precontemplation?

300

A helpful MI question to ask yourself when stuck.

What is “What do I want to be different?” (or similar)

400

The MI approach of exploring instead of judging yourself.

What is non-judgment/curiosity?

400

Pulling together what you’re thinking and feeling to see the bigger picture.

What are summaries?

400

Change talk that gets at the necessity for change.

What is Need?

400

The stage focused on sustaining change over time.

What is maintenance?

400

The MI skill of holding both sides of a decision without rushing it.

What is exploring ambivalence?

500

The idea that wanting change and resisting change can exist at the same time.

What is mixed motivation? (also ambivalence)

500

These are the four skills we employ in motivational interviewing.

What are open-ended questions, affirmations (validate), reflections, and summaries (OARS)?

500

These are the four kinds of preparatory change talk

Desire, Ability, Reasons, Need (DARN)

500

The stage where someone feels torn and unsure about changing.

What is contemplation?

500

The most important tone to use when talking to yourself about change.

What is non-judgment, curiosity, self-compassion?

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