In this episode of MI for Change, we open the toolbox and put OARS + I to work—the foundational skills of Motivational Interviewing you can use in sessions today.

You’ll learn how to:

O – Open-ended questions: move beyond “How are you?” to prompts that invite real dialogue (and when to use fewer with tangent-prone clients).

A – Affirmations: spot and name authentic strengths without sounding generic—so buy-in grows naturally.

R – Reflections: from simple to double-sided and amplified, reflect meaning (not just words) to surface ambivalence and elicit change talk.

S – Summaries: tie threads together, redirect respectfully, and set the next-step agenda.

+ I – Information & Advice (AOA): Ask–Offer–Ask to share concerns and guidance with permission—reducing resistance while respecting autonomy.

Real-world stories include parent coaching and classroom scenarios, plus a memorable reflection mishap (tapas vs. topless 😅) that shows why clarifying matters. You’ll hear how these skills turn power struggles into collaboration—and why this MI approach lightens clinician burnout by shifting the responsibility for change back to the client.

Subscribe for upcoming deep dives into the Four Processes and skillful wording you can copy into practice.

Learn more about Motivational Interviewing and explore on-demand courses at www.drmonicagilbert.com

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