Been there, I showed up to orientation once without reading the manual and felt like an idiot. MI is basically a client-centered counseling style that helps people resolve ambivalence about change. Instead of advice-giving, you’re using open questions, reflective listening, and affirmations to draw out their own motivations. Check out benefits of motivational interviewing for a solid overview before your training. The core idea is people argue themselves into change more effectively than being told what to do. My supervisor drilled the acronym OARS into us (open questions, affirmations, reflections, summaries). You’ll pick it up fast once you’re in the session, don’t stress too much.
