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
Change Talk vs. Sustain Talk: How to Evoke Motivation with DARNCAT
In this episode of MI for Change, we zero in on the core aim of Motivational Interviewing: eliciting change talk—and distinguishing it from sustain talk (arguments for the status quo).
You’ll learn:
What counts as change talk (vocalizations toward change) vs. sustain talk (arguments against change).
How to categorize change talk with DARNCAT:
Desire • Ability • Reason • Need • Commitment • Action • Taking Steps.
A practical differential attention approach: reinforce change talk, acknowledge sustain talk without overfeeding it.
A scaling exercise (1–10) that shows how one question can evoke sustain talk—and a better question can unlock change talk.
Simple ways to measure progress (record, tally change vs. sustain talk as baseline and after 4 weeks).
Monica shares real-world phrasing you can steal for sessions with parents, clients, and supervisees, plus a quick template for turning “Why not higher?” / “Why not lower?” into a reliable catalyst for motivation.
Subscribe for upcoming episodes on softening sustain talk and shaping conversations that lead to action.
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