Pic 19: The screen transitions to the next example statement and responses. This example statement reads “I know it would be good for Melanie to exercise, but she’s too exhausted after school and debate.”

• You need to make exercise a priority.
  • This is advice, not a reflection. When you take one side of an argument, many people will reflexively take up the other side and argue against  Instead, a reflection like “You’d like Melanie to exercise more” could encourage the parent to argue for change.
• You’d like her to exercise more, but that might mean changing her schedule.
  • This is a good reflection that turned the parent’s concern about Melanie’s exhaustion into a reason to change her schedule to benefit her health.
• Melanie has been exhausted recently.
  • This reflection repeats the parent’s reason for Melanie not to exercise and does not move the conversation toward change.

Pic 20: The screen transitions to the next example statement and responses. This example statement reads “My kids never eat what I cook anyway. Why spend all that time preparing healthy food?”

• A lot of kids are picky eaters.
  • This is a statement of fact, not a reflection of this parent’s feelings. A reflection like “It’s frustrating when they won’t eat your cooking” could help motivate her to address the problem instead of accepting it.
• The kids don’t like what you cook.
  • This does reflect what was said, but in a way that emphasizes reasons not to change.
• It’s frustrating when your kids won’t eat your home-cooked meals.
  • This is the correct response! It reflects the feelings behind what this mom said, making it more likely she will address the problem instead of accepting it.

Pic 21: The screen changes to one titled “Challenge of MI” which has two circles, one with a health coach in it and another with a client in it. Initially, blue arrows flow from health coach to client, but after a moment the health coach circle withdraws and becomes gray.

Eva: Part of the challenge of MI is knowing when to gently steer clients toward thoughts about change and when to give them space. 

Pic 22: The screen changes to a close-up of Dr. Schwartz.

Dr. Schwartz: We walk a fine line between being too directive in a conversation, which leaves families resentful, and being too hands-off, which can fail to result in change. MI follows a middle path to guide families through the process of thinking about healthier choices.

Pic 23: The screen changes to an image of a parent with a question mark speech bubble above their head gesturing with a smile towards their children, a young girl with a ponytail and headphones looking down to her phone, an older girl holding a soda, and an older boy holding a soda and a bag of fast food. After a moment, another speech bubble appears above the parent with the symbol for “information” inside.

Eva: By asking clients for their input, respectfully sharing information, and listening to their feelings.

Pic 24: A new image replaces the old one. In this one, the parent is gesturing with a thumbs-up at the younger girl on a bike, the older girl holding a water bottle, and the older boy with a bag of vegetables.

We can help them realize that they already have the knowledge, strength, and ability to make changes and live a healthier life.

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