Welcome to MI-5 - Your Weekly Dose of Motivational Interviewing
- Mikel Gellatly
- Jun 29
- 4 min read
Get ready to dive into another exciting week with MI-5, your trusted source for Motivational Interviewing (MI) insights. Each week, we deliver five compact, thought-provoking ideas to spark your curiosity, enhance your skills, and keep you at the forefront of MI practices. Whether you’re an experienced practitioner, a trainer, or simply curious about MI, this newsletter is a treasure trove of motivation and knowledge.
In this edition, we explore a practical communication skill, highlight one of my favourite MI resources, reflect on a foundational quote, revisit the ever-present Fixing Reflex, and take a look at new research showing how MI strengthens other treatments.
Skill Focus: Ask-Offer-Ask
MI offers us many gifts for our practice, and one of them is a collaborative, practical way to give information or advice. It’s called Ask-Offer-Ask, and it’s especially helpful when we need to discuss something potentially sensitive: feedback, risk, or new options.
Here’s the rhythm:
Ask what the person already knows about the topic at hand
Offer new information or feedback, with permission
Ask what they make of it - for their refreshed understanding
This respects their existing knowledge, makes room for reflection and the integration of the new information, and reduces the likelihood it will be met with resistance.
People don’t like being told what to do, and definitely don’t like being told what they already know.
It’s a small shift that makes a big difference.
Resource Highlight: Dr Kylie McKenzie’s MI Pocket Guide
If you haven’t yet printed this out and stuck it next to your desk, now’s the time.
Kylie McKenzie’s MI Pocket Guide is a one-page visual aid that brings together the MI spirit, core skills, the four-tasks, and more, all in one tidy, accessible page.
It’s a perfect reminder to keep you grounded in the approach. Great for training rooms, supervision sessions, or your own workspace.
Quote of the Week: Bill Miller
“Reflective listening is the key to this work. Whenever you are in doubt about what to do, offer a reflection.”
This one gets better each time I return to it.
Reflective listening isn’t just a technique, it’s how we operationalise empathy, acceptance, and partnership in our conversations. It does what questions often don’t: shows we’re really listening, without shifting the focus.
When trainees are first learning to be more deliberate in forming reflections, they often say, “I feel like I’m not listening, I’m just trying to think of what to say.” But here’s the truth: if we’re genuinely trying to reflect, we are listening. If we’re planning our next question, that’s when we're most likely not.
The Fixing Reflex – Why It Matters
The Fixing Reflex is that urge to jump in and solve, advise, warn, direct. It comes from a place of wanting to help, but often lands badly.
Why? Partly, self-perception theory - we believe what we hear ourselves say. The more someone argues for change, the more likely they are to follow through. But if we do the talking - telling them what to do and why - we rob them of that process.
Fixing will trigger resistance, making change less likely.
MI offers an alternative: we listen, reflect, evoke. And in doing so, we help people build their own arguments for change.
New Research: MI Enhances Other Interventions
Recent studies reinforce what many of us see in practice: MI doesn’t replace other treatments - it strengthens them.
Across physical and mental health, justice, and addiction settings, MI adds value by improving engagement, adherence, and behaviour change outcomes.
What the latest research shows:
Amplifies change: MI boosts outcomes in hypertension management, physical activity, and rehabilitation.
Boosts mental health recovery: Especially in stroke rehab and post-stroke depression care.
Improves engagement: Reduces dropout and increases session attendance in addiction and justice programs.
Supports complex populations: From young people in EDs to adults with chronic health issues.
More evidence that perhaps MI may operationalise the helping relationship across contexts, populations, or interventions.
References:
Kohl et al. (2024), BMJ
Tang et al. (2024), Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine
Zhang et al. (2024), Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications
Li et al. (2025), BMC Psychiatry
Romero et al. (2025), Psychosocial Intervention
Ramos et al. (2025), Addictive Behaviors Reports
Last Week’s Highlights: Tickets on Sale - 2-Day MI Building Skills Workshop - Gold Coast
Registrations are open for the upcoming 2-Day Motivational Interviewing Building Skills Workshop, on the Gold Coast, designed for those new to MI and for those wanting to deepen their practice beyond the basics.
At the heart of MI is a powerful truth: no conversation is neutral. Every interaction holds the potential to move someone closer to change, or further from it. This workshop is about making those moments count.
Over two interactive days, we’ll explore how to:
Evoke and strengthen change talk
Navigate resistance with empathy and precision
Apply MI strategies in complex, real-world conversations
Through exercises, real client scenarios, and group discussions, you’ll leave more confident, more skilled, and more intentional in your practice. 🔗 Spots are limited – secure your place here: https://www.trybooking.com/DAOZB
Words matter. Conversations matter. This is where MI makes a real difference. We’d love to have you with us.
Final Thoughts
As always, thanks for reading and for doing this work.
This week, maybe you pause before giving advice. Maybe you print Kylie’s pocket guide and keep it within reach. Maybe you offer one more reflection, even when you’re not sure what to say.
Little things matter. MI teaches us that.
See you next week.
- Mikel
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