In this episode of MI for Change, we unpack the Transtheoretical Model of Change (Prochaska & DiClemente) and show how it fits seamlessly with Motivational Interviewing—so you can meet clients (and parents) exactly where they are and move conversations forward without pushback.

You’ll learn how to recognize and respond to each stage:

Pre-contemplation → plant seeds without pushing: use amplified reflections, rolling with resistance, and querying extremes.

Contemplation → honor ambivalence: use double-sided reflections, reframing, and agreeing with a twist to tip toward change.

Preparation → clarify goals and choose a path: offer a menu of options, set expectations, and co-design first steps.

Action → support doing: reinforce, affirm, and troubleshoot roadblocks as behaviors start to shift.

Maintenance → sustain gains: fade supports, generalize skills, and build relapse prevention plans for real-life stressors.

Relapse → normalize and re-enter: treat setbacks as U-turns, extract learning, and re-engage the cycle without shame.

You’ll hear practical language for each stage (from parent coaching to school teams and substance use), plus why pushing before readiness = more sustain talk—and how pacing your MI skills reduces clinician burnout.

Subscribe for upcoming episodes where we apply these moves to common ABA and mental health scenarios.

Learn more about Motivational Interviewing and explore on-demand courses at www.drmonicagilbert.com

Join the MI Academy for practical training and resources — and enjoy an exclusive 15% off with code MIFORCHANGE at checkout.

📲 Connect with me on Instagram: @drmonicagilbert

In this episode of MI for Change, we break down the four processes of Motivational Interviewing (MI)—a simple framework that helps structure your client and parent coaching sessions without making them feel rigid or forced.

You’ll learn how to:

• Engage: build trust, rapport, and genuine curiosity with clients and parents.
• Focus: narrow down goals and use mapping to stay on track while remaining flexible.
• Evoke: elicit motivation and solutions from clients (instead of doing all the work yourself).
• Plan: move from talk to action with small, realistic steps that create momentum.

Dr. Monica Gilbert shares practical examples—like scaling questions, agenda mapping, and double-sided reflections—that you can use right away to strengthen conversations, reduce resistance, and avoid burnout.

By the end of this episode, you’ll see how these four processes create a natural flow that feels like a dance, not an arm wrestle—so your sessions are more collaborative, structured, and effective.

Subscribe now so you don’t miss upcoming episodes where we’ll dive deeper into applying MI across real-world ABA and mental health practice.

Learn more about Motivational Interviewing and explore on-demand courses at www.drmonicagilbert.com

Join the MI Academy for practical training and resources — and enjoy an exclusive 15% off with code MIFORCHANGE at checkout.

📲 Connect with me on Instagram: @drmonicagilbert

In this episode of MI for Change, we zero in on the core aim of Motivational Interviewing: eliciting change talk—and distinguishing it from sustain talk (arguments for the status quo).

You’ll learn:

What counts as change talk (vocalizations toward change) vs. sustain talk (arguments against change).

How to categorize change talk with DARNCAT:
Desire • Ability • Reason • Need • Commitment • Action • Taking Steps.

A practical differential attention approach: reinforce change talk, acknowledge sustain talk without overfeeding it.

A scaling exercise (1–10) that shows how one question can evoke sustain talk—and a better question can unlock change talk.

Simple ways to measure progress (record, tally change vs. sustain talk as baseline and after 4 weeks).

Monica shares real-world phrasing you can steal for sessions with parents, clients, and supervisees, plus a quick template for turning “Why not higher?” / “Why not lower?” into a reliable catalyst for motivation.

Subscribe for upcoming episodes on softening sustain talk and shaping conversations that lead to action.

Learn more about Motivational Interviewing and explore on-demand courses at www.drmonicagilbert.com

Join the MI Academy for practical training and resources — and enjoy an exclusive 15% off with code MIFORCHANGE at checkout.

📲 Connect with me on Instagram: @drmonicagilbert

In this episode of MI for Change, we open the toolbox and put OARS + I to work—the foundational skills of Motivational Interviewing you can use in sessions today.

You’ll learn how to:

O – Open-ended questions: move beyond “How are you?” to prompts that invite real dialogue (and when to use fewer with tangent-prone clients).

A – Affirmations: spot and name authentic strengths without sounding generic—so buy-in grows naturally.

R – Reflections: from simple to double-sided and amplified, reflect meaning (not just words) to surface ambivalence and elicit change talk.

S – Summaries: tie threads together, redirect respectfully, and set the next-step agenda.

+ I – Information & Advice (AOA): Ask–Offer–Ask to share concerns and guidance with permission—reducing resistance while respecting autonomy.

Real-world stories include parent coaching and classroom scenarios, plus a memorable reflection mishap (tapas vs. topless 😅) that shows why clarifying matters. You’ll hear how these skills turn power struggles into collaboration—and why this MI approach lightens clinician burnout by shifting the responsibility for change back to the client.

Subscribe for upcoming deep dives into the Four Processes and skillful wording you can copy into practice.

Learn more about Motivational Interviewing and explore on-demand courses at www.drmonicagilbert.com

Join the MI Academy for practical training and resources — and enjoy an exclusive 15% off with code MIFORCHANGE at checkout.

📲 Connect with me on Instagram: @drmonicagilbert

In this episode of MI for Change, we dive into the heart of Motivational Interviewing — the spirit and science behind the approach that transforms how we communicate in ABA and mental health.

You’ll learn how to ground your practice in PACE:

✨ Partnership — creating alignment with clients and families.
✨ Autonomy — respecting client choice to reduce resistance.
✨ Compassion — approaching every conversation with curiosity.
✨ Evocation — drawing out solutions instead of prescribing them.

We’ll also explore:

• Why ethics are at the center of MI.
• How to avoid the “fixing reflex” that increases client pushback.
• Real-world examples of MI in parent training and classroom settings.
• Why honoring autonomy and evoking solutions leads to stronger buy-in.

If you’ve ever wondered how to use MI without falling into advice-giving or power struggles, this episode will give you both the framework and practical tools to start right away.

💡 Subscribe now so you don’t miss future episodes — including upcoming deep dives into the ORS skills and other MI techniques.

Learn more about Motivational Interviewing and explore on-demand courses at www.drmonicagilbert.com

Join the MI Academy for practical training and resources — and enjoy an exclusive 15% off with code MIFORCHANGE at checkout.

📲 Connect with me on Instagram: @drmonicagilbert

Welcome to the very first episode of MI for Change!

In this episode, I’m sharing the story of how I discovered Motivational Interviewing during my doctoral training, how it completely changed the way I worked with clients in substance use treatment, and why I knew it had to become part of behavior analysis and mental health practice.

You’ll hear how simple MI techniques transformed client attendance, strengthened rapport, and reduced resistance — not only in addiction work, but also in parent coaching, supervision, and ABA sessions.

We’ll also talk about:

✨ Why traditional approaches can unintentionally increase resistance.
✨ How embedding MI into parent training sessions builds more buy-in.
✨ Why communication style matters just as much as treatment plans.
✨ How MI can reduce burnout for therapists and supervisors.

This episode sets the stage for what’s to come: real stories, practical techniques, and honest conversations about using MI to create meaningful change in ABA and mental health.

If you enjoy this first episode, please hit subscribe, share it with a colleague, and stay tuned for more strategies you can start applying right away.

Learn more about Motivational Interviewing and explore on-demand courses at www.drmonicagilbert.com

Join the MI Academy for practical training and resources — and enjoy an exclusive 15% off with code MIFORCHANGE at checkout.

📲 Connect with me on Instagram: @drmonicagilbert

Are you looking for less resistance, more buy-in, and stronger connections with your clients?

MI for Change is the podcast dedicated to exploring Motivational Interviewing (MI) in behavior analysis and mental health. Hosted by Dr. Monica Gilbert, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Psychologist, this show helps professionals transform client conversations — one question at a time.

Each episode delivers:

✨ Practical MI strategies you can apply immediately in sessions
✨ Real case examples that bring concepts to life
✨ Inspiring interviews with experts across ABA and mental health

Whether you’re an ABA practitioner, therapist, counselor, or student, you’ll discover how simple shifts in communication can reduce resistance, strengthen rapport, and spark lasting change.

Because parent coaching and client conversations don’t have to feel like a struggle — they can be the spark that makes transformation possible.

Subscribe today and join the journey to becoming a more effective, confident, and client-centered communicator.

This is MI for Change.

Learn more about Motivational Interviewing and explore on-demand courses at www.drmonicagilbert.com

Join the MI Academy for practical training and resources — and enjoy an exclusive 15% off with code MIFORCHANGE at checkout.

📲 Connect with me on Instagram: @drmonicagilbert