Module 7: MI Microskills - Questions and Affirmations Flashcards
Describe the difference between open- and closed-ended questions.
Open-ended: Promote more information sharing and are not limited to yes or no answers
Close-ended: Limited to yes or no answers and can only promote limited information
Describe how to form an open-ended question.
Start questions with words like what, when, how, etc.
Discuss the benefits of asking open-ended questions.
- Encourages clients to share more information
- Help create a nonjudgmental conversation
- Elicits concerns or views
- Elicits their own motivations
- Activates client toward change
Discuss the drawbacks of asking open-ended questions.
- Can lead to client getting off-topic
- If not phrased properly, they can be seen as leading questions
List the types of open-ended questions and when to use each in a counseling session.
- Digging deep
- If any
- Strength-based
- Hypothetical
- Disarming
- Exploring benefits and beliefs
- Reasons for change
- Rulers
- Looking forward/back
- Think Dish-errl*
Digging deep open-ended questions
- Build rapport
- Enhance understanding
- Enhance client awareness
If any open-ended questions
- Reduce judgment
- Not as leading
Strength-based open-ended questions
-Builds self-efficacy
Hypothetical open-ended questions
- Allow client to envision change
- Elicits change talk
Disarming open-ended questions
- Help to roll w/ resistance
- Strengthen rapport
- Build empathy
Exploring benefits and beliefs open-ended questions
-Health goals/behaviors may conflict with values/beliefs
Reasons for change open-ended questions
- Elicit change talk
- Strengthen commitment to change
Rulers open-ended questions
- Clarify goals
- Assess readiness
Looking forward/back open-ended questions
- Elicit change talk
- Benefits of change
- Self-efficacy
- Affirming
Define affirmations.
Clear, genuine words of understanding and appreciation for the client and their strengths (should be specific):
- Builds feelings of empowerment
- Builds self-efficacy
- Decrease defensiveness
- Encourage persistence
Describe when to use affirmations.
- When the client has made progress on their goal
- Be thoughtful about timing, don’t overuse
Discuss the benefits of using affirmations in a counseling session.
- If the client needs to increase their self-efficacy
- If you want to affirm a specific characteristic to encourage their progress
Describe how to craft an appropriate affirming statement in a counseling session.
- Be honest and genuine
- Target a specific strength, effort, or behavior
- Avoid using “I” statements
- Be thoughtful about timing & don’t overuse
- Not an endpoint, but a way of gathering valuable information
Describe the benefits of helping your clients engage in self-affirmation.
- Increase their self-efficacy
- Help them stay motivated
- Help them recognize their progress
