MI for Change: Motivational Interviewing in ABA & Mental Health

Monica Gilbert
  • 5.0 (3)
  • 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.

  1. Why People Don’t Change—Even When the Help Is “Good” with Dr. Paul Gavoni

    2D AGO

    Why People Don’t Change—Even When the Help Is “Good” with Dr. Paul Gavoni

    Most professionals don’t struggle because they don’t care. They struggle because the people they’re trying to help… don’t see what’s in it for them. In this episode of MI for Change, I had the pleasure to sit down with Dr. Paulie to talk about why telling people what to do rarely leads to real change—even when the advice is solid and well-intentioned. Together, we explore: * Why “resistance” is often a signal—not a problem * How values drive behavior more than information ever will * What happens when professionals unintentionally impose their own values * Why consent, buy-in, and engagement are skills—not personality traits * How Motivational Interviewing helps people change without pressure or coercion This conversation is for clinicians, educators, leaders, and helpers who’ve ever thought: “Why isn’t this working?” If you work with parents, staff, clients, or teams—and change feels harder than it should—this episode will help you see why. Learn More about Dr Paul Gavoni: https://thebehavioraltoolbox.com/ 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

    47 min
  2. Trauma-Informed Care Isn’t What You Think — How MI Restores Choice, Voice, and Agency

    FEB 10

    Trauma-Informed Care Isn’t What You Think — How MI Restores Choice, Voice, and Agency

    with clients. You’ll learn why trauma is fundamentally about loss of control, and how MI restores what trauma takes away: choice, voice, and agency — without removing accountability or direction. This episode breaks down: Why “trauma-informed” has become a buzzword (and how it’s often misunderstood)How MI prevents re-traumatization by supporting autonomyThe difference between trauma-informed care and permissive therapyWhy avoiding discomfort isn’t the same as providing safetyHow MI helps re-engage clients who feel “therapied out”How to balance compassion and movement in clinical conversationsWhether you’re a therapist, clinician, or someone who wants to communicate more ethically and effectively, this episode will help you rethink what trauma-informed care really looks like in 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

    17 min
  3. Giving Assessment Feedback Without Triggering Defensiveness (Using Motivational Interviewing)

    FEB 3

    Giving Assessment Feedback Without Triggering Defensiveness (Using Motivational Interviewing)

    Giving assessment results to parents can be one of the most emotionally charged moments in clinical work. In this episode of MI for Change, Dr. Monica Gilbert explores how Motivational Interviewing (MI) can help clinicians deliver psychological and educational assessment feedback in a way that feels supportive, collaborative, and empowering—instead of overwhelming or defensive. You’ll learn why even technically accurate feedback can miss the mark emotionally, how fear and grief often show up as “defensiveness,” and what to say (and not say) when sharing difficult results like an autism diagnosis or learning challenges. Whether you’re a psychologist, behavior analyst, therapist, school professional, or parent-facing clinician, this episode will help you transform feedback sessions into conversations that foster understanding and forward movement. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why parents may shut down during assessment feedback—even when you’re “doing everything right”How MI helps reduce defensiveness and emotional overwhelmQuestions that invite collaboration instead of resistanceHow to evoke next steps without pressuring familiesWays to balance clinical clarity with empathy and partnership🎧 Listen now and learn how how you communicate results can change what happens 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

    18 min
  4. Beyond Basic Reflections — Advanced MI Skills That Create Movement

    JAN 27

    Beyond Basic Reflections — Advanced MI Skills That Create Movement

    Motivational Interviewing isn’t just about being warm, empathic, and reflective — it’s about being intentional. In this first episode of Season 2, Dr. Monica Gilbert takes you beyond the basics and into the advanced, often untaught skills of Motivational Interviewing. If you’ve ever felt like your sessions are respectful and supportive… but not actually moving clients toward change, this episode is for you. Dr. Gilbert breaks down the seven levels of reflections, showing how each level serves a different purpose — and how higher-level reflections can reduce resistance, evoke insight, and gently guide clients toward change without pressure or confrontation. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why MI without strategy can become “polite conversation” instead of change workThe 7 levels of reflections, from simple to advancedHow to move from surface-level reflections to meaning-based reflectionsHow double-sided reflections normalize ambivalence and create movementWhat strategic hypothesis testing reflections are — and how to use them ethicallyWhy tone and intention matter as much as the words you chooseHow MI is like learning a new language — and why practice + feedback are essential💬 “MI isn’t just about sounding empathic — it’s about being intentional with where the conversation is going.” 💬 Join the Conversation: Which level of reflection do you find yourself using most often? Reply or comment — I’d love to hear what resonated with you. 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

    18 min
  5. The Meisner Technique & MI Reflections — How Actors Train Us to Listen

    JAN 20

    The Meisner Technique & MI Reflections — How Actors Train Us to Listen

    In this episode of MI for Change, I share a surprising tool that can instantly sharpen your reflections and your ability to stay present with clients: the Meisner repetition exercise (a famous acting technique). Actors train for months to learn how to listen, respond, and stay emotionally present—so why do we assume these skills should “just come naturally” in therapy, supervision, or hard conversations? I break down how the Meisner technique parallels Motivational Interviewing—especially reflections—and how you can use this as a practical exercise with supervisees, clinicians, or even in your own daily communication. In this episode, you’ll learn: What the Meisner repetition exercise is (and how to run it as a training activity)Why reflections are not parroting content—but mirroring meaning and emotionHow to notice micro nonverbals (tone shifts, hesitation, body language) and reflect what’s “alive”How to stay with emotion (including tears) without rushing to “fix” itHow to make your reflections more human, more transformational, and less roboticIf reflections ever feel awkward, “therapisty,” or forced—this episode will give you a new way to practice that feels natural and effective. 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

    19 min
  6. Softening Sustain Talk & Cultivating Change Talk With Hillary Logan

    JAN 13

    Softening Sustain Talk & Cultivating Change Talk With Hillary Logan

    In this episode of MI for Change, I’m joined by Hillary Logan, LCSW, MINT-certified trainer and founder of MI Center for Change, for a deep, practical conversation about sustain talk—or as Hillary calls it, “stuck talk.” Together, we explore what sustain talk is really telling us about a client’s readiness, why it’s protective (not resistance), and how to soften sustain talk without amplifying it, while intentionally cultivating change talk. We talk about: Why sustain talk isn’t the problem—but how we respond to it can beHow softening sustain talk mirrors behavioral principles like differential reinforcementWhen reflecting sustain talk helps—and when it accidentally strengthens itWhy silence feels so uncomfortable (and how to use it skillfully)How provider mindset, tone, and curiosity shape client outcomesUsing the four processes of MI (engage, focus, evoke, plan) as an assessment tool when sessions feel “stuck”This episode is especially helpful for clinicians who feel confident with OARS, but struggle with the technical side of MI—how to move sessions forward without fixing, pushing, or arguing. 🎧 Listen now and learn how to turn stuck moments into movement. Resources Mentioned MI Center for Change: www.micenterforchange.comLearn 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

    41 min
  7. Motivational Interviewing in ABA — An Objective Behavioral Definition + OARS as Verbal Operants

    JAN 6

    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 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

    25 min
  8. How to Start Using Motivational Interviewing (Even If You Feel Lost!)

    12/30/2025

    How to Start Using Motivational Interviewing (Even If You Feel Lost!)

    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

    23 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

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.

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