NCJ Number
225194
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 72 Issue: 2 Dated: September 2008 Pages: 61-66
Date Published
September 2008
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article describes the features of “motivational interviewing” (MI) and why it is useful in probation supervision, followed by a presentation of the eight stages of learning MI and a model implementation plan for MI training.
Abstract
MI is a communication style that involves the strategic use of questions and statements that help clients find their own reasons for changing their attitudes and behaviors. MI borrows from client-centered counseling in its emphasis on empathy, optimism, and respect for client choice. MI also draws from self-perception theory, which holds that people become more or less interested in change based on how they talk about it. It suggests that offenders who talk about the benefits of change are more likely to make the change. MI is an important tool for probation officers, because they are uniquely situated to function as change agents who prepare an offender motivationally to comply with conditions of probation, engage in special programs, and make other positive changes. There are eight stages in learning MI. In the first stage, officers learn how to evoke an individual’s own reasons, ideas, and solutions regarding behavioral change. In the second stage, officers learn client-centered counseling skills. This involves learning how to use open-ended questions, positive comments about what clients say and do, reflecting what clients say, and summarizing what has been discussed. Stages three and four of learning MI involve recognizing, reinforcing, and strengthening change talk. Stage five consists of learning how to “roll” with resistance from the client, which involves helping the client to understand what underlies his or her resistance to change. Stages six and seven consist of learning how to develop and consolidate commitment to change; and stage eight involves learning how to switch between MI and other approaches to interviewing as situations dictate. 32 references