Spirit of MI
What is one component of the underlying spirit of Motivational Interviewing?
What is
1. Partnership
2. Acceptance
3. Compassion
4. Empowerment
This stage—sometimes misunderstood as “failure”—is actually viewed in MI as a return to earlier behavior that can offer valuable insight into triggers and resilience-building.
What is Relapse
Phrases like “I’m ready to try” signal this CAT component that captures a client’s preparation or willingness to take a first step.
What is Activation
These types of questions encourage clients to explore their thoughts and feelings more deeply by inviting more than a yes‑or‑no response.
What are Open-Ended Questions?
What communication Style is used in Motivational Interviewing?
What is Guiding
Unconditional positive regard shown to a client
What is Absolute Worth
Clients in this stage work to sustain gains and prevent setbacks, making reinforcement of strengths and strategies especially important.
What is Maintenance
Statements indicating the client has already begun moving toward change—such as scheduling appointments or cutting back on a behavior—represent this component of CAT.
What is Taking Steps
Repeating or paraphrasing what the client has said to show understanding
What are Reflections
Name One of the times that Motivational Interviewing would be the right approach?
What is
1. When the conversation is about potential change
2. The person is ambivalent about making a change
3. There is one particular target change or issue around which to focus the conversation
Building the client/person's awareness that they have the power to make choices.
What is Support for Autonomy
Clients in this stage often don’t view their behavior as a problem, making gentle engagement and information‑sharing more effective than pushing for action.
What is Pre-Contemplation
Statements that reflect a client’s confidence in their capacity to change—such as “I could do this” or “I can handle it”—fall into this specific DARN component.
What is Ability
Reviewing key points in the conversation to reinforce motivation and clarify next steps
What is Summary
What are biases?
Connecting with how the client/person views their circumstances
What is Empathy
This stage is defined by observable behavior change, often supported by specific plans, strategies, or new routines the client is actively implementing.
What is Action
When clients begin offering personal justifications—like “It would help my health”—they’re expressing this part of DARN.
What is Reason
Recognizing the patient's strengths and efforts
What is Affirmations
This internal experience, often mistaken for resistance, is actually a sign that a client holds two competing truths at once, making it the precise moment where MI can generate momentum for change if handled skillfully.
What is Ambivalence
Name 1 of the 4 elements to Acceptance.
What is
1. Absolute Worth
2. Support Autonomy
3. Affirmation
4. Accurate Empathy
This stage is marked by clients expressing both the pros and cons of change, making it the prime setting for eliciting change talk rather than offering solutions.
What is Contemplation?
What is one skill used to reinforce change talk?
What is
1. Recognize it
2. Respond to it in a way that will draw out more change talk
3. Evoke it from the person
Similar to OARS, what skills do we use to respond to change talk?
What is EARS?
What are the four fundamentals of MI
What is Engaging, Focusing, Evoking, and Planning?