A scaling system (usually 1-10) where people are asked to rate their emotional readiness for change.
What is the Readiness Ruler?
100
Questions that require more than a yes or no answer.
What are open-ended questions?
100
In contrast to "sustain talk," this type of resistance may be more of a conflict among the individuals rather than the issue at hand.
What is discord (or relational resistance)?
100
"I want to change my eating habits but food is just so expensive and I can't afford it!" shows a bit of change talk but also some of this.
What is sustain talk?
200
I have lost 20 lbs already and working on losing more!
What is the maintenance stage?
200
These two things are commonly asked when using the readiness ruler.
What are importance and confidence?
200
Repeating back a response to check for accuracy is known in MI as...
What is Reflection?
200
Rather than disagree with someone or try to prove them wrong, you may want to do this to "be on their team."
What is "coming alongside?"
200
As we engage with people and focus on the behavior change, then evoke from within them how they can overcome their barriers, we shift into this core process of MI.
What is planning?
300
Most people linger in one of these two stages.
What is either precontemplative or contemplative?
300
These are the types of "change talk" heard in DARN CATS.
What is Desire, Ability, Reason, Need, Committment, Activating, and Taking Steps?
300
This must relate to the behavior, or else it might feel like cheer-leading.
What are affirmations?
300
This type of complex reflection strongly emphasizes the individual's resistance.
What is an amplified reflection?
300
A key question (give an example) can test the water to help us determine if it is time for planning.
What is "What do you think you'll do now?"
400
As someone is in a preparation stage, we help them establish plans and goals in order to progress to this stage of doing something.
What is the Action stage?
400
When there is less resistance and "sustain talk," and more of this, it is usually a good time to start planning.
What is "change talk?"
400
You can adjust this aspect of your voice to change a question to a reflection.
What is your inflection?
400
A double-sided reflection will reiterate both the sustain talk and this part that you usually want to end with.
What is change talk?
400
This pillar of the Spirit of MI can be difficult to stand by when someone is not ready or willing to plan for change.
What is acceptance (or respecting autonomy)?
500
Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of education in order to move from not even thinking about change to this next stage
What is contemplation?
500
As we engage effectively with a person, they may be more ready to concentrate on the change - which is this core process of MI.
What is focusing?
500
You can think of these as a conglomeration of reflections.
What are summaries?
500
Watch out for these signs of discord.
What are defending, interrupting, disengagement or attacking.
500
Identifying potential barriers to progress with this MI skill can help to strengthen committment to change.