Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing is a counseling approach that helps healthcare professionals, including dietitians, guide patients toward positive health changes. Instead of telling patients what to do, it focuses on having supportive conversations that help people find their own reasons for making healthy choices. This method is particularly useful when working with patients who need to change their eating habits or lifestyle. It's similar to health coaching or patient counseling, but uses specific techniques to build trust and encourage commitment to change. Think of it as a friendly conversation style that helps patients want to make changes, rather than feeling forced to do so.
Examples in Resumes
Used Motivational Interviewing techniques to help patients develop sustainable eating habits
Achieved 75% patient success rate through Motivational Interviewing and behavior change strategies
Conducted patient sessions using MI and Motivational Interviewing approaches to support lifestyle modifications
Typical job title: "Motivational Interviewing Practitioners"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Motivational Interviewing Practitioners
Professional Organizations
Online Learning Resources
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you train other practitioners in Motivational Interviewing techniques?
Expected Answer: Should discuss experience in mentoring others, explaining the core principles in simple terms, and providing examples of successful training programs or mentorship experiences.
Q: Describe a challenging case where MI techniques helped achieve a breakthrough with a resistant patient.
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate advanced problem-solving skills, patience in working with difficult cases, and ability to adapt MI techniques to individual patient needs.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you handle a patient who seems unmotivated to change?
Expected Answer: Should explain strategies for building rapport, rolling with resistance, and helping patients explore their own reasons for change.
Q: What strategies do you use to assess a patient's readiness to change?
Expected Answer: Should discuss ways to evaluate patient commitment, understanding of change stages, and methods to adjust approach based on readiness level.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the basic principles of Motivational Interviewing?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain core concepts like expressing empathy, developing discrepancy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy in simple terms.
Q: How do you use open-ended questions in your practice?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of how to ask questions that encourage patients to share more information and explore their own motivations.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic MI conversation techniques
- Open-ended questioning
- Active listening skills
- Building initial rapport with patients
Mid (2-5 years)
- Advanced behavior change strategies
- Working with resistant patients
- Customizing approach for different populations
- Goal setting and progress monitoring
Senior (5+ years)
- Training and mentoring others in MI
- Complex case management
- Program development
- Integrating MI with other counseling approaches
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to demonstrate active listening skills
- Tendency to lecture rather than guide patients
- Lack of empathy or patient-centered focus
- No experience with behavior change techniques
- Poor communication skills
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