Motivational interviewing for employment: An exploration of practitioner skill and client change talk

Abstract

Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidenced‐based approach for building and strengthening motivation for change. The effect of MI training on practitioner conversations with unemployed clients within a government work and income service was evaluated using a mixed‐method approach, comprising a multiple‐baseline across practitioner (n = 5) design and a pre/post quasi‐experimental design. After workshop MI training, practitioners demonstrated greater MI skills in conversations with clients, and MI skills were maintained during the period of post‐workshop feedback and coaching. There was also more change talk spoken by clients in conversations that occurred post‐MI workshop training compared to pre‐training, suggesting increased motivation for change.

Mental health rehabilitees’ agency construction and promotion in community-based transitional work programme

“…While promoting rehabilitees’ agency, the staff members also ended up inhibiting and suppressing rehabilitees’ agency. In line with prior MI studies (e.g., Britt et al, 2022 ), we highlight the importance of the practitioners’ interactional skills. Considering the fine-grained nature of the communicative practices, their reflective understanding is needed for supporting clients’ paths towards employment.…”

“…In line with the Clubhouse principles, MI seeks to support individuals’ own strengths and active participation by motivating them to make meaningful changes in their lives (Miller & Rollnick 2012 ; Hänninen, 2016 ). In MI, the professionals guide the conversation to strengthen clients’ change talk, for instance, by asking evocative questions and inviting reflection (Britt et al, 2022 ; Miller & Rollnick, 2012 ).…”