Motivational Interviewing

Validation vs. Affirmation: What is the Crucial Difference?

An African American man's hand rests on a small rectangular chalkboard. "Impossible" is written in chalk, with the man's hand covering the first two letters, so it reads "possible".

In Motivational Interviewing, you may hear the term “affirmation” frequently. In Motivational Interviewing, we use affirmations vs. validation or confirmation. What’s the difference between affirmation and validation? Is it just a matter of semantics?   As we explore the techniques of Motivational Interviewing, we can learn how to affirm and hold space for those we …

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How to Build Motivation in Motivational Interviewing

A white lightbox sign sits on a workspace desk and displays the words "I can and I will" in black letters.

If you work in human services, chances are high that you’re familiar with Motivational Interviewing. Further, you may know a key component of MI is helping people build motivation to embrace healthy behavior changes. But how to build motivation can sound like a tall order and can sometimes be elusive to new learners of MI. …

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Exploring the Examples of Motivational Interviewing Affirmations

A large, falling tree trunk in a park is held up by a strong, intricately carved hand made of wood.

Motivational Interviewing is a critical tool for anyone who works in the human services field. The Motivational Interviewing (MI) approach helps to empower and encourage others to make positive choices and reinforces positive behaviors.   One crucial part of the technique is offering up Motivational Interviewing affirmations. Affirmations reinforce the constructive steps that the individual …

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Motivational Interviewing for Teachers: Understanding MI in Education

At Share Collaborative, one of our favorite areas of focus is education. We have worked with public and private schools to share concepts behind motivational interviewing for teachers in the classroom and support staff to enhance student engagement and wellbeing.   Those familiar with Motivational Interviewing or MI may think of it as something used …

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What We Can Learn from Great Motivational Interviewing Examples

In this great motivational interviewing example, we learn how MI can encourage change talk and resolve ambivalence.

We’ve explored the “what” of Motivational Interviewing in previous Ripples and how this technique offers a helpful structure to engage, support, and guide conversations with served persons. But what can we learn from motivational interviewing example questions?   The best way to really understand and develop skill in MI is to practice and watch how …

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The 4 Processes of Motivational Interviewing

Want to engage and support those you work with in social and human services? Here we explore the 4 processes of motivational interviewing.

Rapport is connection. Rapport is engagement. Rapport is the number one indicator of a positive outcome in any human service relationship. Science says so, our experience and the experience of those we’ve shared with say so, and likely your own experience says so as well. Motivational Interviewing is known for its capacity to build rapport …

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