In this episode of MI for Change, I’m sharing one of my favorite topics: how to translate Motivational Interviewing (MI) into ABA language—in a way that feels objective, teachable, and easier to apply in real sessions.

I walk you through a foundational paper—“A Behavior Analytic Account of Motivational Interviewing” by Michael Doerr & Paulette Christopher—and use it to break down MI concepts like intrinsic motivation, ambivalence, discrepancy, the MI Spirit, OARS, change talk vs. sustain talk, and differential reinforcement through a behavioral lens.

You’ll also hear the objective MI definition I constructed with input from behavior analysts:

Motivational Interviewing is the intentional arrangement—through timing, tone, and type of verbal contingencies—designed to evoke, differentially reinforce, strengthen, and generalize change talk.

If you’ve ever wondered how MI fits inside ABA (without losing the “spirit” of MI), this episode will help you connect the dots—and walk away with language you can use to train staff, teach interns, and strengthen parent coaching conversations.

Resources Mentioned:

• A Behavior Analytic Account of Motivational Interviewing (Doerr & Christopher) — link in show notes/description (add your link)

💬 Join the conversation:
Reply/comment with your take: Which MI concept do you want me to translate into ABA next?

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

If you’re new to Motivational Interviewing — or you’ve been “sort of” using the skills but still feel unsure — this episode is for you.
Today, I break down the exact starting point, the 3 essential habits every beginner should build, and how to know whether MI is actually working in session.

I also share my brand-new definition of Motivational Interviewing (yes — the short, digestible version!) and answer some of the most common questions I’m asked inside trainings.

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✅ The first MI skill you should use if you’re brand new
✅ How to integrate reflections without sounding robotic or scripted
✅ The three mindset shifts that immediately improve your MI conversations
✅ Why “intention” is the missing ingredient most practitioners overlook
✅ How to picture change talk vs. sustain talk using a simple thermometer metaphor
✅ The difference between supporting clients vs. pushing them
✅ How to know when clients aren’t “resistant”… they’re just not ready yet
✅ And what to do when YOU start feeling burnout or frustration

🗣️ Favorite Quote From This Episode:

“MI is the intentional arrangement of timing, tone, and verbal contingencies designed to evoke and strengthen change talk.”

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

Are your sessions starting to feel like you’re just chatting without real movement toward change?

In this episode of MI for Change, Dr. Monica Gilbert breaks down how to combine the OARS skills (Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries) with the four processes of Motivational Interviewing (Engage, Focus, Evoke, Plan) — so your conversations feel purposeful, not random.

Using a fun “building a closet” metaphor (yes, with almost-divorce-level assembly stress 😅), Monica shows you how OARS are your tools, and the four processes are your roadmap. When you put them together intentionally, you stop spinning in circles and start guiding clients toward meaningful, sustainable change.

Whether you’re a BCBA, psychologist, therapist, counselor, or other helping professional, this episode will help you:

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What OARS really are (from an MI and behavior-analytic lens)
• How to use OARS differently in each process:
  • Engaging – using OARS to build trust and rapport
  • Focusing – narrowing in on what actually matters (together)
  • Evoking – drawing out the client’s own reasons for change (DARN CAT!)
  • Planning – turning “why” into “how” with collaborative action steps
• Why empathy alone isn’t enough if there’s no movement toward change
• How to avoid getting stuck in endless venting or “nice” sessions with no direction
• A simple reflection prompt you can ask yourself before your next session:

Which process is my client in right now? And which OARS skill fits best here?

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

What if one simple mindset shift could completely change the tone of your sessions?

In this episode of MI for Change, Dr. Monica Gilbert shares a practical “mind hack” that can transform how you show up with clients, parents, and teams — especially when sessions feel repetitive or resistant.

Fresh from her experience at the MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers) conference, Monica reflects on what it really means to be someone worth talking to — and how approaching sessions with curiosity and a blank-slate mindset can foster empathy, trust, and genuine collaboration.

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✅ Why your mindset before a session shapes the outcome more than you think
✅ How to use curiosity as a clinical tool to uncover what’s really behind resistance
✅ The importance of starting fresh with each client — the “blank slate” approach
✅ How to “hack your brain” to stay open and calm, even during tough sessions
✅ Practical language shifts to build buy-in and connection instantly
✅ A powerful quote by Helen Mentha that redefines how we show up for our clients

🧠 Quote of the Week

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

How do you give feedback that lands—without power struggles or performative praise? In this episode of MI for Change, Dr. Monica Gilbert shows how to use Motivational Interviewing (MI) to coach interns and supervisees more effectively (and humanely).

You’ll learn:

• Why the “sandwich method” fails (predictable, inauthentic, and forgettable)
• The PACE spirit of MI in supervision: Partnership, Acceptance (autonomy), Compassion, Evocation
• A step-by-step feedback flow using Ask–Offer–Ask (AOA)
  (ask for perspective → offer observations with permission → ask what landed & next steps)
• How to evoke supervisee-generated solutions (and real buy-in)
• Authenticity in practice (including Monica’s mailbox story—and why being human builds trust)

Perfect for BCBAs, supervisors, fieldwork coordinators, and clinical leads across ABA and mental health.

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

How do you respond when a parent says, “We’ve tried that—it never works”? What about a supervisee who insists, “I already tried it,” or an intern who nods “got it” but never changes? In this MI for Change episode, Dr. Monica Gilbert walks through 16 real case scenarios across parents, supervisees, teams, and teens—and models Motivational Interviewing (MI) responses you can use today.

Scenarios covered (with sample MI moves):

• Resistant parent — reflect discouragement + evoke previous efforts
• Hopeless parent — validate fatigue, search for the spark that keeps them showing up
• Overwhelmed parent — shrink scope to one small win this week
• Over-involved dad — affirm intention; perspective-take: “How do you think he feels…?”
• “School is the problem” — agree with a twist; share what works at home
• Minimizing parent (“he’ll grow out of it”) — future focus + miracle question
• Fearful parent — validate anxiety; explore values in tough moments
• Defensive couple — reflect shared goals; get one agreement this week
• Defensive supervisee — affirm intent; invite self-reflection
• Passive supervisee — support autonomy; evoke their voice
• Overconfident supervisee (“I already do MI”) — move to discovery with open questions
• Burned-out BCBA — reconnect to meaning and values
• Resistant team member — roll with resistance; try a low-risk experiment
• Eager-to-please intern — affirm honesty; co-design safe practice
• Conflict-avoidant supervisor — surface future costs of silence
• Ambivalent teen (vaping) — double-sided reflection to open change talk

You’ll hear: OARS in the wild, double-sided reflections, affirmations that land, “agreeing with a twist,” Ask–Offer–Ask, evocation, and autonomy-supportive language—applied to the situations you face every week.

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

Ever worry your reflections sound “therapist-y”? Struggle when parents say they don’t have time? Wonder how to prevent burnout, improve follow-through, or use MI with supervisees who insist “I tried that—it doesn’t work”?

In this MI for Change Q&A episode, Dr. Monica Gilbert answers the most common questions she gets at conferences, webinars, and supervision sessions. You’ll hear practical, real-world strategies for applying Motivational Interviewing (MI) across ABA and mental health settings—parent coaching, clinical work, and supervision.

You’ll learn how to:

• Use reflections without sounding repetitive (and let them land)
• Respond when parents say “I don’t have time” (add value + restore autonomy)
• Avoid sounding fake while still using MI skills authentically
• Increase follow-through when clients/parents agree but don’t act
• Navigate supervisees who say “I tried it, it didn’t work” (evoke solutions)
• Access empathy when you’re frustrated or burned out (and when to pause)
• Use MI when parents are in denial about a diagnosis (plant seeds, pace)
• Know if you’re enabling vs. facilitating change (track change talk)
• Decide when to pause or end services (align with the Stages of Change)

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

Working with schools can be one of the most rewarding — and most challenging — parts of our job. 🍎

In this episode of MI for Change, Dr. Monica Gilbert explores how to use Motivational Interviewing (MI) strategies to improve collaboration and communication with teachers, paraprofessionals, and school teams.

So often, behavior analysts or therapists walk into a classroom eager to help, only to be met with resistance — a look, a shrug, or a polite “we’ve tried that before.”
But with the right MI tools, those moments can turn into genuine partnerships.

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✅ How to build rapport and trust with teachers from the very first interaction
✅ The power of open-ended questions in understanding classroom challenges
✅ Why reflections and affirmations can turn resistance into collaboration
✅ How to align goals between teachers and therapists for more consistent outcomes
✅ Real-life examples of “evoking” solutions instead of prescribing them

💬 “If the teacher is on your same page, the outcome for the client is always stronger.”

💬 Join the Conversation:
How do you build trust and collaboration with teachers or school staff?
Reply or comment with one strategy that’s worked for you — I’d love to hear your story!

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