Key Takeaways

- Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based communication approach that can significantly enhance therapeutic relationships and outcomes in behavior analysis

- MI skills (OARS: Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries) require intentional practice but can be transformative for client interactions

- Recent research shows strong social validity for integrating MI into ABA training and practice, addressing known skill deficits in therapeutic alliance building

Topics

Background and Relevance of MI in ABA

- Multiple recent studies (2018-2023) highlight BCBAs' lack of skills in building therapeutic relationships

- Less than 6% of surveyed BCBAs had practical training in MI-related skills during education

- MI has extensive evidence base in other helping professions (e.g., addiction treatment, healthcare)

- Key MI outcomes align with ABA needs: increased treatment adherence, goal clarity, session attendance

Core MI Skills (OARS)

- Open-ended questions: Elicit detailed responses beyond yes/no (e.g., "Tell me about your weekend")

- Affirmations: Recognize client strengths and efforts (e.g., "You're clearly a dedicated parent")

- Reflections: Demonstrate active listening and check understanding (e.g., "It sounds like you're worried about...")

- Summaries: Synthesize key points and transition topics

Implementing MI in ABA Practice

- Pause before offering solutions; ask additional questions and reflect to ensure full understanding

- Use OARS flexibly, not necessarily in order

- Practice in various contexts (e.g., emails, casual conversations) to build fluency

- Adjust approach based on individual client communication preferences

Research and Training Developments

- 100% of BCBAs in a study agreed MI skills should be developed in the field

- Organizations like Mosaic Pediatric Therapy integrating MI into staff training and onboarding

- Growing number of ABA-specific MI resources and conference presentations emerging

Next Steps

- Attendees encouraged to explore MI resources shared during session (articles, books, recorded trainings)

- Consider attending upcoming MI workshops (e.g., Stone Soup Conference, Maryland ABA in December)

- Potential future Do Better workshop on MI with Callie Plattner in 2025

- Field to continue work on incorporating MI into ABA coursework, fieldwork, and continuing education