Using Motivational Interviewing to Give Ambivalence the One-Two Punch

Abstract

Knocking out ambivalence to motivate students towards positive change is a delicate, yet powerful process. As advisors, we often encounter students who know they need to alter strategies for improving academic performance, career preparation, and overall well-being but find it difficult to make necessary changes. Decisional balance,coupled with the fundamental aspects of Motivational Interviewing,allows students to weigh the pros and cons of changing their behavior and identify the source of their motivation, ultimately leading to their own self-authorship.Within our session, participants will learn how we incorporate decisional balance into our coaching conversations with students to move towards intrinsic motivation and change, as well as how to incorporate decisional balance within their own daily practice.