Deliberate Practice in Motivational Interviewing

Deliberate practice exercises help clinicians develop competence in fundamental motivational interviewing skills to better assist clients with change goals, improve treatment engagement, and retention. These exercises present role-playing scenarios in which two trainees act as a client and a clinician, switching back and forth under the guidance of a supervisor. The first 12 exercises focus on specific skills, such as offering simple and complex reflections and affirmations, eliciting change talk, supporting client autonomy, and collaboratively mapping session agendas.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 212 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2022
Publisher: American Psychological Association

Deliberate practice exercises are crucial for clinicians seeking to develop competence in fundamental motivational interviewing skills. These exercises provide a structured environment for trainees to practice and refine their skills, enabling them to better assist clients with change goals such as quitting addictive behaviors and developing healthier habits. By engaging in role-playing scenarios with supervisors, clinicians can improvise appropriate and authentic responses to client statements, reflecting common client questions and concerns.

The exercises are organized into three difficulty levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The first 12 exercises focus on specific skills, including offering simple and complex reflections and affirmations, eliciting change talk, supporting client autonomy, and collaboratively mapping session agendas. These skills are essential for building rapport and fostering a collaborative therapeutic relationship.

The second phase of the exercises includes two comprehensive exercises. The first is an annotated transcript, where trainees review and analyze a recorded motivational interviewing session, identifying key strategies and techniques used by the clinician. The second is a free-form mock therapy session, where trainees integrate essential skills into one session, applying them to a hypothetical client scenario.

Step-by-step instructions are provided to guide participants through the exercises, identify criteria for skill mastery, and explain how to monitor and adjust difficulty. Guidelines and forms are also provided to help trainers and trainees maximize the benefits of training.

In conclusion, deliberate practice exercises are an effective way for clinicians to develop competence in fundamental motivational interviewing skills. By providing a structured environment for trainees to practice and refine their skills, these exercises enable clinicians to better assist clients with change goals and improve treatment engagement and retention.

Dimension: 279 x 216 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781433836183