Motivational Interview Analysis

Motivational interviewing is an important tool to utilize when assisting clients with the process of change. The goal of motivational interviewing is to help an individual see their own potential and to gain the desire for change. It helps the individual explore their current situation and what their future may look like, from there they can decide whether it is worth making that change. For this assignment, my partner Jenessa and I each took a turn being a interviewer and a client. When I was the motivator, Jenessa acted as a women who was in need to go through a detox program in order to get a new liver. It was a big transition in her life, and she was struggling to come into terms with that. In the interview, we discussed her progress thus far, what her goals are, and how she can implement change. The first skill I utilized was rolling with

I tried to have an open posture and to maintain eye contact as these approaches show the client that you are listening and are engaged in the conversation. I implemented silence listening and gave the client the time needed to respond. In the feedback, Jenessa mentioned that I seemed genuinely interested in what she was saying and that she appreciated having the time to elaborate on a question. Looking back at the video, I feel as if my body posture could have been better. Since we were sitting on a couch, it was hard to have that direct contact position. Also, I found that holding the clipboard was hindering my involvement as I kept glancing down at it. Moreover, I was using empathetic statement in the interview, such as "to clarify..." and "that must be difficult for you". Not only did this allow the client to add any more information if they pleased, but it also gave her comfort. In the interview, Jenessa mentioned that she was afraid of relapsing and that her hard work would be for nothing. In response, I validated her concerns by saying that they were