Motivational interviewing (MI) is a practical, person-centered, collaborative counseling method used to help people resolve their fears and develop internal motivation to change their behavior. Evidence-based, it is designed to strengthen people’s personal motivation for and commitment to a specific goal.
Keep these quick tips in mind when using MI as an employment strategy:
Quick Tips
- Approach MI as a collaborative partnership to which you each bring important expertise.
- People have their own motivation, strengths, and resources. As a counselor, you can help activate those resources.
- Focus on building client motivation for change. This gives clients something that will likely help them within the first few sessions, even if they do not stay for a long course of treatment.
- Recognize ambivalence as a normal barrier to behavior change. It can be resolved by exploring the client's intrinsic motivations and values.
- Avoid arguing with or trying to persuade the client that your position is correct. Conversations about change should not become debates.
- Remember the core counseling skills of MI using the acronym OARS (Miller & Rollnick, 2013):
- Asking Open questions
- Affirming
- Reflective listening
- Summarizing
- Support your client’s self-efficacy and optimism.
Source: Chapter 3—Motivational Interviewing as a Counseling Style, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Resources
Use these resources to learn more about how to use motivational interviewing as an employment strategy.
On-Demand Training
- Motivational Interviewing – Introduction – TACQE U
Get an introduction to motivational interviewing in vocational rehabilitation and learn about stages of change, motivation, ambivalence, and the spirit of motivational interviewing. - Motivational Interviewing Video Playlist – Oregon Department of Human Resources (ODHS)
Delve into this collection of 24 motivational interviewing videos. Some videos were developed by Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation to prepare their vocational rehabilitation counselors to utilize MI in vocational rehabilitation settings. - Motivational Interviewing with Youth in the VR Setting - VR Youth Technical Assistance Center (Y-TAC)
Gain an overview of adolescent development and the match between adolescent needs and motivational interviewing techniques.
Resources
- Chapter 3—Motivational Interviewing as a Counseling Style - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Examine what's new in motivational interviewing (MI), the spirit of MI, the concept of ambivalence, core counseling skills, and the four processes of MI. - Rolling with Resistance: The Spirit of Motivational Interviewing - University at Buffalo, State University of New York and Region II Rehabilitation Continuing Education and Community Rehabilitation Program
Access a workbook for training counselors in motivational interviewing. It contains chapters on the fundamentals of change, clarifying values, responding to resistance, motivational interviewing strategies, employment assessment, job readiness, and more. - Is Motivational Interviewing a Part of Your Vocational Rehabilitation Practice? – Project E3
Gain tips and tools to help you apply motivational interviewing in your vocational rehabilitation practice.