Motivation interview

The “spirit” of Motivational Interviewing is brought to life through four specific micro-skills, known by the acronym OARS. These are not just communication tools; they are the “rowing” mechanism that moves a client through the process of change. Let’s put this into practice.

The Prompt

Read the following client statement:

“I know I should probably stop drinking so muchit’s affecting my sleep and Im always late for work. But honestly, its the only way I know how to unwind after a stressful day, and all my friends go to the bar after our shift.”

Your Task: Provide a response to this client using each of the OARS components. Label your responses clearly:

1. Open-Ended Question: Craft a question that invites the client to explore their ambivalence further without feeling judged.
2. Affirmation: Identify a strength or a positive value the client demonstrated in their statement and affirm it.
3. Reflective Listening: Write a “complex reflection.” Instead of just repeating what they said, try to reflect the underlying feeling or the “change talk” you hear (e.g., “On one hand… but on the other…”).
4. Summary: Write a brief summary (2-3 sentences) that ties these elements together, ending with a “check-in” question to see if you understood them correctly.

The Follow-Up Challenge

After you provide your OARS examples, answer this: Which of these four skills do you find the most difficult to implement, and why? (e.g., Is it hard to avoid “Closed” questions? Is it difficult to find something to affirm?)

Submission Requirements

• Initial Post: Due Thursday. Ensure your OARS examples are distinct and labeled.
• Peer Response: Due Sunday. Review a classmates Reflection. If you were the client, how would that reflection make you feel? Suggest one way to “deepen” their reflection to highlight the clients internal motivation.

OARS Cheat Sheet for Success

Quick Reference for SkillsSkillPro-TipExample StartOpen-EndedAvoid “Why” (it can sound accusatory). Use “What” or “How.””What would be different if…”AffirmationMust be genuine. Focus on character or effort, not just “good job.””It takes a lot of self-awareness to notice…”ReflectionTry to make a statement rather than asking a question.”It sounds like you value your job, yet…”SummaryUse “transitional” summaries to move the conversation forward.”Let me see if I have this right…”

Here is a model response to the client scenario. You can provide this to your students as an “Exemplar” after the discussion closes, or use it as a grading rubric to see if they are hitting the nuances of each skill.

Client Statement Recap:

“I know I should probably stop drinking so muchit’s affecting my sleep and Im always late for work. But honestly, its the only way I know how to unwind after a stressful day, and all my friends go to the bar after our shift.”

Model OARS Response

1. Open-Ended Question

“What are some of the things youve noticed about how your work life might change if you had more energy in the mornings?”

• Why it works: It avoids a “yes/no” answer and directs the client to imagine a positive future (Change Talk) rather than focusing on the “bar.”

1. Affirmation

“It takes a lot of honesty and self-awareness to recognize that your current way of unwinding is starting to get in the way of your professional goals.”

• Why it works: It validates the clients character (honesty) rather than just “approving” of their behavior.

1. Reflective Listening (Complex Reflection)

“On one hand, the bar is where you feel connected to your friends and find relief from stress, but on the other hand, youre starting to worry that the cost of that relief is your reliability at work.”

• Why it works: This is a “double-sided reflection.” It acknowledges the “pros” of the behavior (unwinding) while highlighting the “cons” (work issues) without sounding judgmental.

1. Summary

“To make sure Im following you: you value your friendships and need a way to decompress after a hard shift, but youve also noticed that drinking is interfering with your sleep and your performance at a job you care about. Have I missed anything important?”