How would you navigate a client's resistance to change during a Motivational Interviewing session?

1 Understanding Resistance

Resistance in Motivational Interviewing isn't a roadblock; it's a valuable signal. It tells you that the client isn't ready to fully embrace change, often due to underlying fears or conflicting emotions. Your role isn't to counter or dismantle this resistance, but to understand it. Engage with your client using reflective listening, which involves rephrasing and summarizing what they say, to validate their feelings and show that you're an ally in their journey. This approach can lower defenses and build trust, creating a more open dialogue about change.

2 Express Empathy

Empathy is the cornerstone of Motivational Interviewing. When clients resist change, they need to feel understood, not judged. Use empathetic statements to convey that you recognize their struggle and respect their feelings. By validating their experiences and emotions, you create a safe space for them to explore their ambivalence about change. This doesn't mean agreeing with their perspective, but rather acknowledging it and showing compassion, which can reduce resistance and foster a collaborative atmosphere.

3 Roll with Resistance

Rather than confronting resistance head-on, Motivational Interviewing encourages you to 'roll with it.' This means accepting the client's objections and using them as a starting point for further exploration. Avoid arguing or direct confrontation, as this can increase defensiveness. Instead, use open-ended questions and reflective listening to help the client examine their resistance and its sources. This can lead to insights that empower the client to reconsider their stance on change.

4 Develop Discrepancy

Highlighting discrepancies between a client's current behavior and their broader goals and values can be a powerful motivator for change. During a session, gently point out how their actions may not align with what they ultimately want to achieve. This isn't about shaming or blaming but about helping clients see the gap that exists so they can consider how change might bridge it. When clients discover these discrepancies themselves, they're often more motivated to change.

5 Support Self-Efficacy

One reason clients resist change is the belief that they can't succeed. In Motivational Interviewing, bolstering a client's confidence in their ability to change is crucial. Use your conversation to highlight past successes and strengths, reinforcing the idea that change is within their reach. When clients feel capable, they're less likely to resist and more likely to take proactive steps towards change.

6 Elicit Change Talk

Change talk is any client speech that favors movement towards change. Encourage this by asking questions that lead the client to argue for change themselves. For instance, ask them to envision the positive outcomes of changing or to detail the drawbacks of staying the same. As clients articulate these reasons and benefits, they begin to persuade themselves, reducing resistance and increasing their commitment to change.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?