Coaching Practiced

23 Motivational Interviewing techniques reflective listening

Jonathan Passmore

Abstract

This short article focuses on the skill of reflection within Motivational Interviewing (MI). It identifies three different types of reflection – ‘simple reflection’, ‘over-stated reflection’ and ‘under-stated reflection’ and identifies when each has a role in an MI coaching conversation.

Keywords

listening skills; reflection; motivational interviewing; reflective listening; motivational interviewing skills.

Original publication details: Passmore, J. (2011, June). Motivational interviewing techniques reflective listening. The Coaching Psychologist, 7(1), 50–53. Reproduced with permission of The British Psychological Society

MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING (MI)

As noted in Chapter 22 (Passmore, 2011), MI (Miller & Rollnick, 2002) is a sophisticated technique and one best used by advanced practitioners who are already skilled in using the core skills in coaching such as open questions, active listening, summary and basic reflection (Passmore, Anstiss & Ward, 2009). In this sense MI is well suited as a skill for coaching psychologists who already draw upon behavioural, cognitive behavioural and humanistic interventions within their coaching practice. It is, however, different from each of these approaches, while drawing on elements from all three (Anstiss & Passmore, in press).

REFLECTIVE LISTENING

Reflective listening is one of the key skills within MI. In popular language ‘listening’ often means ...