General MI Tips and Information Archives - A Better Listener

Happy New Year!  I don’t know about you, but this time of year, all my conversations seem to be about change.  Maybe it’s the decade change; this year more than ever, it seems I’m hearing resolutions of everyone around me – friends, family, and co-workers.  We are surrounded by ads about exercising more and eating

Recently, someone asked me what I like most about Motivational Interviewing (MI). It’s a great question, since there are so many things I love about MI! If you’re a helping professional wondering if you might like to learn about Motivational Interviewing, or if it’s worth your time to improve your strategies for motivating others, today

As the academic year begins, it seems like a great time to review ways we can calm an upset student.  For many students, getting adjusted to a new school routine can be stressful. I hope you find some of the following tips helpful in your conversations with students at this time of year. 1. Reflect,

When thinking of what constitutes a good listener, minimal encouragers are likely to come to mind. If you don’t know what ‘minimal encouragers’ are, you likely are familiar with hearing or saying them. Minimal encouragers are utterances such as: “Mhm,” “yeah,” “oh,” (nodding of the head), and a favorite in Wisconsin: “interesting.” A “minimal encourager”

This week, I’ve been out in my raspberry patch, picking delicious berries. All this hunting for the ripe berries has me thinking about the importance of timing. In conversations about change, timing is essential. The moments at which a better listener (you!) chooses to use a strategic question, reflection statement, or affirmation – not too