Motivational Interviewing in ABA — An Objective Behavioral Definition + OARS as Verbal Operants

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

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