Three in a Row

Abstract: Trainees specify some of the client and setting characteristics that present counseling challenges, and the process elicits discussion of helpful techniques.

Overview: This method is used to open a training event because it anchors subsequent discussion in the real-life experience of the trainee group, and facilitates their openness to hearing about MI.

Guidelines:
The trainer asks the group to list the Atypical characteristics@ of their clients or patients, and records these on a large easel sheet. The trainer then states that on this clinical day, the trainees are scheduled to see 3 of these clients in a row, and that they will be raising the subject of behavior change. The trainer then elicits from the group their cognitive and emotional reactions to this scenario, and records these. The trainer then asks the group to consider what actions they can take as counselors to improve either the responsiveness of the clients, or their own emotional reaction to seeing 3 of these clients/patients in a row. This usually elicits a number of MI-consistent techniques, which the trainer lists on a new sheet of paper.

Summarize the discussion by categorizing the helpful counseling techniques listed into MI categories, such as techniques to reduce resistance, promote collaboration, explore ambivalence, develop discrepancy, etc. Then state that you will be using the group=s ideas about their typical clients, and their list of helpful techniques, to learn MI, which can be described as a more systematic way for them to organize their counseling.

thanks to Steven Rollnick