Your client has conflicting priorities in a session. How do you navigate this with motivational interviewing?
When your client has conflicting priorities, motivational interviewing can help guide the conversation and find common ground. Here's how:
How do you handle conflicting priorities in client sessions?
Your client has conflicting priorities in a session. How do you navigate this with motivational interviewing?
When your client has conflicting priorities, motivational interviewing can help guide the conversation and find common ground. Here's how:
How do you handle conflicting priorities in client sessions?
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When clients face conflicting priorities, motivational interviewing can effectively bring clarity and alignment. Reflective listening is key—acknowledge their concerns by paraphrasing their thoughts to show empathy and understanding. Use open-ended questions to encourage deeper exploration, such as, “What matters most to you right now?” or “How do these priorities align with your long-term goals?” Regularly summarize the conversation to clarify key points and ensure mutual understanding. This collaborative approach fosters trust and helps clients navigate their conflicts. How do you address conflicting priorities during sessions? Share your strategies!
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In situations like this it's important to first ask yourself if the tool that you're using is appropriate for the task at hand. Motivational interviewing is useful but can be very limited with a number of common problems, especially those involving internal conflict. In many situations, as I like to say, "The solution IS the problem." Coaches and therapists need to know the limitation of their theories and when to look to their own reactions, what psychoanalysts call countertransference, to determine if they need to change things up or seek consultation or referral. Within the paradigm of motivational interviewing, you have to pick your battles. The specific areas of so-called conflict need to be examined individually.
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When a client is torn between conflicting priorities, I start by acknowledging their struggle, creating a safe space for them to explore their thoughts. I might say, “It sounds like you’re feeling stuck between these two options, and both seem important to you.” We then gently explore what each priority means to them, asking open questions like, “What does this choice represent for you?” or “How does this fit with what you want in the bigger picture?” I reflect their words back, helping them hear their own motivations and uncover clarity. By the end, I ask, “What feels right to you now?” This keeps the focus on their autonomy and self-discovery.
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Seek understanding. Explore pros and cons of choosing one over the other. Be supportive rather than giving advice. Facilitate in developing a plan.
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Navigating conflicting priorities in a session using motivational interviewing is about finding alignment rather than imposing solutions. Start by listening empathetically—allow the client to express both sides of their dilemma without judgment. Reflect their ambivalence back to them to help them recognize the underlying values or fears driving their priorities. Use open-ended questions like, "What feels most important to you right now?" or "How do these choices fit into your bigger picture?" This approach empowers the client to clarify their path while feeling fully supported.
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