Motivational Interviewing Techniques for Social Workers

A Practical Guide to Engaging Clients and Inspiring Change

Honor Victoria Frost

• Publisher: Isohan Publishing
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN: 9781923370623
• Edition: 0
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Mental Health in Psychology
• Index: Psychology

Unlock Client Motivation and Empower Change: A Practical Guide to Motivational Interviewing for Social Workers

Are you a social worker seeking effective strategies to engage clients, navigate resistance, and support meaningful change? This comprehensive guide delivers practical, evidence-based Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques tailored specifically for the complexities of social work practice. Learn how to move beyond simply advising clients and instead, skillfully evoke their own reasons and capacity for positive transformation.

Inside, you'll discover:

The Core Principles of MI: Understand the spirit of Partnership, Acceptance, Compassion, and Evocation (PACE) and how it aligns seamlessly with social work values like self-determination and empowerment.

Mastering OARS: Develop proficiency in Open-Ended Questions, Affirmations, Reflective Listening, and Summaries—the fundamental skills for building rapport and guiding conversations effectively.

Navigating Ambivalence: Learn proven techniques to recognize, elicit, and respond to Change Talk and Sustain Talk, helping clients resolve internal conflicts about change.

Real-World Applications: Gain invaluable insights through detailed chapters applying MI across diverse social work settings, including:

Child Welfare: Engaging mandated parents and supporting adolescents in care.

Substance Use: Addressing ambivalence, supporting recovery, and implementing harm reduction.

Mental Health: Working with clients hesitant about treatment and supporting self-management.

Homelessness: Building trust and exploring motivation for housing and services.

Healthcare: Discussing health behavior change and adjustment to illness.

Corrections: Supporting reintegration and addressing criminogenic needs with mandated clients.

Schools: Engaging students, parents, and teachers around academic and behavioral concerns.

Geriatric Care: Supporting autonomy and navigating complex care decisions with older adults.

Integration and Ethics: Understand how MI complements other approaches like Strengths-Based Practice, Trauma-Informed Care, and CBT. Address crucial ethical considerations and practice with cultural humility.

Skill Development: Find resources, practice exercises, and strategies for ongoing professional development and maintaining MI proficiency.

Filled with realistic case examples and dialogues, this book provides social workers—from students to seasoned practitioners—with the essential knowledge and skills to confidently apply Motivational Interviewing. Enhance your practice, build stronger client relationships, and become a more effective catalyst for client-driven change. Equip yourself with the tools to truly empower the individuals and families you serve.

Table of contents

• Motivational Interviewing Techniques for Social Workers
• A Practical Guide to Engaging Clients and Inspiring Change
• Table of Contents
• Part 1: Foundations of Motivational Interviewing in Social Work
• Chapter 1: Introduction - Why MI for Social Workers?
• Chapter 2: The Spirit of MI: The Social Worker's Stance
• Chapter 3: The Four Processes of MI: A Social Work Roadmap
• Chapter 4: Core Communication Skills – OARS
• Chapter 5: Recognizing and Responding to Change Talk and Sustain Talk
• Part 2: Applying MI in Social Work Practice Settings
• Chapter 6: MI in Child Welfare
• Chapter 7: MI in Substance Use Services
• Chapter 8: MI in Mental Health Settings
• Chapter 9: MI with Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
• Chapter 10: MI in Healthcare and Medical Social Work
• Chapter 11: MI in Corrections and Forensic Settings
• Chapter 12: MI in School Social Work
• Chapter 13: MI with Older Adults and Geriatric Care
• Part 3: Enhancing MI Practice and Professional Development
• Chapter 14: Integrating MI with Other Social Work Approaches
• Chapter 15: Ethical Considerations and Cultural Humility in MI
• Chapter 16: Developing and Maintaining MI Proficiency
• Conclusion: The Social Worker as Catalyst for Change
• Appendix A: Glossary of MI Terms
• Appendix B: Sample MI Dialogue Snippets
• Appendix C: Useful Worksheets
• Appendix D: List of Recommended Resources
• References