Claim OwnershipMI for Change: Motivational Interviewing in ABA & Mental Health
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Description
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.
25 Episodes
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Most professionals don’t struggle because they don’t care. They struggle because the people they’re trying to help… don’t see what’s in it for them. In this episode of MI for Change, I had the pleasure to sit down with Dr. Paulie to talk about why telling people what to do rarely leads to real change—even when the advice is solid and well-intentioned. Together, we explore: * Why “resistance” is often a signal—not a problem * How values drive behavior more than information ever will * What...
with clients. You’ll learn why trauma is fundamentally about loss of control, and how MI restores what trauma takes away: choice, voice, and agency — without removing accountability or direction. This episode breaks down: Why “trauma-informed” has become a buzzword (and how it’s often misunderstood)How MI prevents re-traumatization by supporting autonomyThe difference between trauma-informed care and permissive therapyWhy avoiding discomfort isn’t the same as providing safetyHow MI help...
Giving assessment results to parents can be one of the most emotionally charged moments in clinical work. In this episode of MI for Change, Dr. Monica Gilbert explores how Motivational Interviewing (MI) can help clinicians deliver psychological and educational assessment feedback in a way that feels supportive, collaborative, and empowering—instead of overwhelming or defensive. You’ll learn why even technically accurate feedback can miss the mark emotionally, how fear and grief often show up ...
Motivational Interviewing isn’t just about being warm, empathic, and reflective — it’s about being intentional. In this first episode of Season 2, Dr. Monica Gilbert takes you beyond the basics and into the advanced, often untaught skills of Motivational Interviewing. If you’ve ever felt like your sessions are respectful and supportive… but not actually moving clients toward change, this episode is for you. Dr. Gilbert breaks down the seven levels of reflections, showing how each level serves...
In this episode of MI for Change, I share a surprising tool that can instantly sharpen your reflections and your ability to stay present with clients: the Meisner repetition exercise (a famous acting technique). Actors train for months to learn how to listen, respond, and stay emotionally present—so why do we assume these skills should “just come naturally” in therapy, supervision, or hard conversations? I break down how the Meisner technique parallels Motivational Interviewing—especially ref...
In this episode of MI for Change, I’m joined by Hillary Logan, LCSW, MINT-certified trainer and founder of MI Center for Change, for a deep, practical conversation about sustain talk—or as Hillary calls it, “stuck talk.” Together, we explore what sustain talk is really telling us about a client’s readiness, why it’s protective (not resistance), and how to soften sustain talk without amplifying it, while intentionally cultivating change talk. We talk about: Why sustain talk isn’t the problem—b...
In this episode of MI for Change, I’m sharing one of my favorite topics: how to translate Motivational Interviewing (MI) into ABA language—in a way that feels objective, teachable, and easier to apply in real sessions. I walk you through a foundational paper—“A Behavior Analytic Account of Motivational Interviewing” by Michael Doerr & Paulette Christopher—and use it to break down MI concepts like intrinsic motivation, ambivalence, discrepancy, the MI Spirit, OARS, change talk vs. sustain ...
If you’re new to Motivational Interviewing — or you’ve been “sort of” using the skills but still feel unsure — this episode is for you. Today, I break down the exact starting point, the 3 essential habits every beginner should build, and how to know whether MI is actually working in session. I also share my brand-new definition of Motivational Interviewing (yes — the short, digestible version!) and answer some of the most common questions I’m asked inside trainings. 💡 In This Episode, Y...
Are your sessions starting to feel like you’re just chatting without real movement toward change? In this episode of MI for Change, Dr. Monica Gilbert breaks down how to combine the OARS skills (Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries) with the four processes of Motivational Interviewing (Engage, Focus, Evoke, Plan) — so your conversations feel purposeful, not random. Using a fun “building a closet” metaphor (yes, with almost-divorce-level assembly stress 😅), Monica shows y...
What if one simple mindset shift could completely change the tone of your sessions? In this episode of MI for Change, Dr. Monica Gilbert shares a practical “mind hack” that can transform how you show up with clients, parents, and teams — especially when sessions feel repetitive or resistant. Fresh from her experience at the MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers) conference, Monica reflects on what it really means to be someone worth talking to — and how approaching sessions with...
How do you give feedback that lands—without power struggles or performative praise? In this episode of MI for Change, Dr. Monica Gilbert shows how to use Motivational Interviewing (MI) to coach interns and supervisees more effectively (and humanely). You’ll learn: Why the “sandwich method” fails (predictable, inauthentic, and forgettable)The PACE spirit of MI in supervision: Partnership, Acceptance (autonomy), Compassion, EvocationA step-by-step feedback flow using Ask–Offer–Ask (AOA) (ask f...
How do you respond when a parent says, “We’ve tried that—it never works”? What about a supervisee who insists, “I already tried it,” or an intern who nods “got it” but never changes? In this MI for Change episode, Dr. Monica Gilbert walks through 16 real case scenarios across parents, supervisees, teams, and teens—and models Motivational Interviewing (MI) responses you can use today. Scenarios covered (with sample MI moves): Resistant parent — reflect discouragement + evoke previous effortsHo...
Ever worry your reflections sound “therapist-y”? Struggle when parents say they don’t have time? Wonder how to prevent burnout, improve follow-through, or use MI with supervisees who insist “I tried that—it doesn’t work”? In this MI for Change Q&A episode, Dr. Monica Gilbert answers the most common questions she gets at conferences, webinars, and supervision sessions. You’ll hear practical, real-world strategies for applying Motivational Interviewing (MI) across ABA and mental health sett...
Working with schools can be one of the most rewarding — and most challenging — parts of our job. 🍎 In this episode of MI for Change, Dr. Monica Gilbert explores how to use Motivational Interviewing (MI) strategies to improve collaboration and communication with teachers, paraprofessionals, and school teams. So often, behavior analysts or therapists walk into a classroom eager to help, only to be met with resistance — a look, a shrug, or a polite “we’ve tried that before.” But wit...
Supervision doesn’t have to feel like pulling teeth. 🦷 In this episode of MI for Change, Dr. Monica Gilbert explores how Motivational Interviewing (MI) can transform the way we communicate with supervisees and interns — turning resistance into reflection and compliance into collaboration. If you’ve ever felt frustrated when supervisees don’t take data, follow through on feedback, or seem disengaged, this episode is for you. Through real-world examples and practical strategies, Mo...
Have you ever avoided a difficult conversation with a client or parent because it felt too uncomfortable? You’re not alone. In this episode of MI for Change, Dr. Monica Gilbert explores the “pink elephant in the room” — those unspoken issues that fill our emotional cup until it overflows. Through a simple (and slightly wet!) metaphor, Monica illustrates how avoidance can build frustration and burnout — and how Motivational Interviewing (MI) gives us the tools to face those moments with...
Have you ever felt like you’re doing all the work when it comes to setting therapy goals? You define the objectives, outline the plan, and your client (or parent) simply nods along. But what if you could create goals with them — not for them? In this episode of MI for Change, Dr. Monica Gilbert explores how collaborative goal setting can transform engagement and outcomes in your sessions. Drawing from a fascinating single-case study by Kusheria et al., she breaks down how speech-language pat...
What if the biggest barriers in your sessions aren’t your clients—but your communication habits? In this episode of MI for Change, Dr. Monica Gilbert breaks down the eight most common mistakes therapists and clinicians make when talking with clients—from over-advising too early to ignoring ambivalence or skipping rapport. You’ll learn why these pitfalls create resistance, what to do instead, and how small shifts can completely transform the way clients respond. Whether you’re a behavior analy...
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 yourse...
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, ref...
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