Let There Be Light

'''Abstract''': This exercise can be done if the training room has a dimmer switch that allows continuous adjustment of the brightness of lighting in the room. In an MI interaction, when change talk is elicited the room lights brighten. When counter-change talk is elicited, the room lights dim.

'''Overview''': A trainee or team is assigned to elicit change talk from a speaker who is talking about am ambivalent change topic. The trainer controls the level of lighting in the room, increasing brightness when change talk is elicited, and dimming the lights when counterchange talk is elicited.

'''Guidelines''': Prepare a speaker to talk about a potential change about which he or she is ambivalent. This can be a role-play or real-life example. Dim the lights in the room to a low level. Ask a trainee or team of trainees to use MI-consistent responses in talking with this speaker, seeking to elicit change talk. If a team, they consult with each other before deciding what to say to the speaker. Then the trainee offers a response intended to elicit change talk, to which the speaker responds. If the speaker=s reply is change talk, slightly increase the brightness of lights in the room. If the speaker=s reply is counter-change talk, dim the lights slightly. Continue until the lights in the room are at full brightness.

'''Variations''':
If lights cannot be brightened, try another way to keep track of cumulative change talk and counter-change talk. For example, stack blocks, adding one when change talk occurs, and removing one when counter-change talk occurs.

Thanks to: The 2005 TNT class (Solvang, California)