Motivational Interviewing is a brief client-centered counseling style used to motivate adolescents and adults to change risky behaviors and adopt healthy or productive behaviors that align with their values (Miller & Rollnick, 2012). Motivational Interviewing can be used by school counselors, school nurses, and school administrators in their conversations with students. The four processes of MI (Engagement, Focus, Evocation of Change Talk, and Planning for Change) will be reviewed. We will practice ways to elicit, recognize, and respond to change talk to help adolescent students achieve their goals. When engaging in MI this is done through the use of OARS (open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries). We will discuss how MI strategies can be used in consultation with other school professionals on behalf of students of all ages. Motivational Interviewing is a style that can help build a growth mindset in students (Dweck) and can help lead to school cultures and climates that are safe and engaging.
-Identify core MI concepts like OARS and DARNCAT.
-Pivot from the righting reflex to rolling with resistance through identification and role play. -Recognize change talk through peer practice.
-Collaborate with peers to identify helpful responses to change goals.