In this episode of Therapist Thrival Guide, host Miranda, a licensed clinical social worker, is joined by Dr. Sara Polley, Chief Medical Officer at Ellie Mental Health and a psychiatrist specialized in addiction medicine.
The duo discuss the principles and practices of Motivational Interviewing (MI), a therapeutic style aimed at evoking change talk and addressing ambivalence in clients. They explore the history, key concepts, and practical applications of MI.
The conversation includes:
- The OARS technique (Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries)
- Identifying change talk versus sustain talk
- Aligning therapeutic goals with client values
Practical tips and real-life examples are shared to help clinicians incorporate MI into their practice effectively.
OUR HOST:
Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on LinkedIn.
The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.
Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021.
Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction02:42 Motivational Interviewing Overview05:21 Practical Applications and Examples07:07 The Spirit of Motivational Interviewing16:19 Skills and Techniques in Motivational Interviewing26:00 Understanding Anhedonia and Open-Ended Questions27:49 Affirmations: Challenges and Examples33:32 Reflections: Simple, Complex, and Amplified37:11 Summarizing: Crafting the Perfect Bouquet41:30 Exploring Ambivalence and Change Talk43:22 Tools and Techniques: Change Ruler and Value Sort Cards45:41 Engagement and Focusing in MI49:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
