Are your sessions starting to feel like you’re just chatting without real movement toward change?

In this episode of MI for Change, Dr. Monica Gilbert breaks down how to combine the OARS skills (Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries) with the four processes of Motivational Interviewing (Engage, Focus, Evoke, Plan) — so your conversations feel purposeful, not random.

Using a fun “building a closet” metaphor (yes, with almost-divorce-level assembly stress 😅), Monica shows you how OARS are your tools, and the four processes are your roadmap. When you put them together intentionally, you stop spinning in circles and start guiding clients toward meaningful, sustainable change.

Whether you’re a BCBA, psychologist, therapist, counselor, or other helping professional, this episode will help you:

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What OARS really are (from an MI and behavior-analytic lens)
• How to use OARS differently in each process:
  • Engaging – using OARS to build trust and rapport
  • Focusing – narrowing in on what actually matters (together)
  • Evoking – drawing out the client’s own reasons for change (DARN CAT!)
  • Planning – turning “why” into “how” with collaborative action steps
• Why empathy alone isn’t enough if there’s no movement toward change
• How to avoid getting stuck in endless venting or “nice” sessions with no direction
• A simple reflection prompt you can ask yourself before your next session:

Which process is my client in right now? And which OARS skill fits best here?

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

What if one simple mindset shift could completely change the tone of your sessions?

In this episode of MI for Change, Dr. Monica Gilbert shares a practical “mind hack” that can transform how you show up with clients, parents, and teams — especially when sessions feel repetitive or resistant.

Fresh from her experience at the MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers) conference, Monica reflects on what it really means to be someone worth talking to — and how approaching sessions with curiosity and a blank-slate mindset can foster empathy, trust, and genuine collaboration.

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✅ Why your mindset before a session shapes the outcome more than you think
✅ How to use curiosity as a clinical tool to uncover what’s really behind resistance
✅ The importance of starting fresh with each client — the “blank slate” approach
✅ How to “hack your brain” to stay open and calm, even during tough sessions
✅ Practical language shifts to build buy-in and connection instantly
✅ A powerful quote by Helen Mentha that redefines how we show up for our clients

🧠 Quote of the Week

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

How do you give feedback that lands—without power struggles or performative praise? In this episode of MI for Change, Dr. Monica Gilbert shows how to use Motivational Interviewing (MI) to coach interns and supervisees more effectively (and humanely).

You’ll learn:

• Why the “sandwich method” fails (predictable, inauthentic, and forgettable)
• The PACE spirit of MI in supervision: Partnership, Acceptance (autonomy), Compassion, Evocation
• A step-by-step feedback flow using Ask–Offer–Ask (AOA)
  (ask for perspective → offer observations with permission → ask what landed & next steps)
• How to evoke supervisee-generated solutions (and real buy-in)
• Authenticity in practice (including Monica’s mailbox story—and why being human builds trust)

Perfect for BCBAs, supervisors, fieldwork coordinators, and clinical leads across ABA and mental health.

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