The 6 client's stages in the motivational interviewing

Question 1

What are the 6 client stages in motivational interviewing?

Answer 1

• precontemplation (unconscious of the situation, “Problem? What
  Problem?”)
• contemplation (conscious but undecided of the situation, “There may be a
  problem.”)
• preparation (conscious and starts to want to make changes, “I’m getting
  ready to deal.”)
• action (conscious and actively making changes, “I’m dealing.”)
• maintenance (conscious keeping the new habits and behaviours, “I’m continuing to deal.”)
• relapse (reverts back temporary to old behaviours, “Oops, I did it
  again.”)

Question 2

What are the main goals when the client is in the precontemplation stage?

Answer 2

• Validate the patient’s experience
• Help the patient develop a reason for changing
• Encourage further self-exploration
• Leave the door open for future conversations

Question 3

What are the main goals when the client is in the contemplation stage?

Answer 3

• Validate the patient’s experience
• Clarify the patient’s perceptions of the pros and cons of making a change
• Encourage further self-exploration
• Leave the door open for moving to preparation

Question 4

What are the main goals when the client is in the preparation stage?

Answer 4

• Reinforce the decision to change behaviour
• Prioritize behaviour change opportunities
• Identify and assist in problem-solving regarding obstacles
• Encourage small initial steps
• Encourage identification of social supports

Question 5

The “pearl” summary session, describe it

Answer 5

• pick together a series of prior client’s statements and offer them back to the client as “pearls of wisdom”
• Preface “let me try to summarise what you’ve been expressing here…”
• One, Two, Three client’s “pearls of wisdom”
• Ask for feedback “what would you add or subtract?”