Coaching Practiced

28 Motivational Interviewing: Reflecting on ethical decisions in MI

Jonathan Passmore

Abstract

This article is the seventh and final one in this series drawn from the Motivational Interviewing (MI) approach. In this paper I will briefly return to reflecting on the MI process and specifically the question of ethics within the approach as we draw this series to a close.

Keywords

Motivational interviewing; coaching ethics; BPS ethical code; ethical guidelines; coaching supervision.

Original publication details: Passmore, J. (2013, December). Motivational Interviewing: Reflecting on ethical decisions in MI. The Coaching Psychologist, 9(2), 112–116. Reproduced with permission of The British Psychological Society.

In previous articles I have explored techniques from MI which could be used by coaching psychologists within their own practice. Some may argue that these techniques, such as recognising and working with change talk, require a high level of sophistication in the skills of the coaching psychologist. This is true, but a number of concepts share strong similarities with traditional coaching, such as Agenda Setting. What makes MI distinctive is that it offers a fresh way to conceptualise these approaches through a systemised approach, which is grounded in extensive research. It is this aspect which in my view makes MI an obvious model for coaching psychologists to turn to, and enables them to differentiate themselves from other coaching practitioners offering interventions ...