MI for Change: Motivational Interviewing in ABA & Mental Health
MI for Change is the podcast dedicated to exploring Motivational Interviewing (MI) in behavior analysis and mental health. Hosted by Dr. Monica Gilbert, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Psychologist, this show helps professionals transform client conversations — one question at a time.
Each episode delivers:
✨ Practical MI strategies you can apply immediately in sessions
✨ Real case examples that bring concepts to life
✨ Inspiring interviews with experts across ABA and mental health
Whether you’re an ABA practitioner, therapist, counselor, or student, you’ll discover how simple shifts in communication can reduce resistance, strengthen rapport, and spark lasting change.
Because parent coaching and client conversations don’t have to feel like a struggle — they can be the spark that makes transformation possible.
Subscribe today and join the journey to becoming a more effective, confident, and client-centered communicator.
This is MI for Change.
MI for Change: Motivational Interviewing in ABA & Mental Health
OARS + I in Action: Questions, Reflections, and Advice the MI Way
In this episode of MI for Change, we open the toolbox and put OARS + I to work—the foundational skills of Motivational Interviewing you can use in sessions today.
You’ll learn how to:
O – Open-ended questions: move beyond “How are you?” to prompts that invite real dialogue (and when to use fewer with tangent-prone clients).
A – Affirmations: spot and name authentic strengths without sounding generic—so buy-in grows naturally.
R – Reflections: from simple to double-sided and amplified, reflect meaning (not just words) to surface ambivalence and elicit change talk.
S – Summaries: tie threads together, redirect respectfully, and set the next-step agenda.
+ I – Information & Advice (AOA): Ask–Offer–Ask to share concerns and guidance with permission—reducing resistance while respecting autonomy.
Real-world stories include parent coaching and classroom scenarios, plus a memorable reflection mishap (tapas vs. topless 😅) that shows why clarifying matters. You’ll hear how these skills turn power struggles into collaboration—and why this MI approach lightens clinician burnout by shifting the responsibility for change back to the client.
Subscribe for upcoming deep dives into the Four Processes and skillful wording you can copy into practice.
Learn more about Motivational Interviewing and explore on-demand courses at www.drmonicagilbert.com
Join the MI Academy for practical training and resources — and enjoy an exclusive 15% off with code MIFORCHANGE at checkout.
📲 Connect with me on Instagram: @drmonicagilbert