Motivational Interviewing; A Counselling Approach.

Hello Everyone!
Here's this week's discussion prompts for the on-demand discussion (due Tuesday 11:59pm EST).
With the relational foundation of MI set, the question is - where do we go from here? We have established a relationship but now need a roadmap to follow, otherwise our clients/employees will bounce from idea to idea without much movement forward. Focusing gives the direction of travel and it is the second step in the four step process of MI (engaging, focusing, evoking, planning). Focusing has three elements: 1) developing and maintaining a specific agenda, 2) discovering what is important to your client/employee, and 3) recognizing it is an unfolding and evolving process.
Activity #1: Focusing with Linda
Listen to this scenario and think about what would be important to know about Linda if we were working with her as a MI coach. What are questions we would want to know? What might we ask?:
Linda is a 30 year old, divorced mother of two young girls (5 and 10). She splits custody with her ex-husband and otherwise spends time alone. She works a demanding job at a local bank. Her life revolves around work and parenting, with little time for socializing. She is in your office because her urine came back ‘positive’ for marijuana, something her work forbids.
Please address some or all of these 3 questions below in your discussion prompt:
What would you ask to develop a specific agenda?
What would you ask to discover what is important to Linda?
How might this process unfold and evolve with Linda?”

Activity #2: Agenda Mapping
Agenda mapping is a tool used to help you focus faster and clarify direction. This approach is like looking at a map and seeing all the different possible routes to go. It is a way to take stock of what you might discuss and work on. Using the menu below, design an agenda map/menu of options for your ‘real’ workplace or one you make up in your mind. It should include the most common challenges people in this workplace face as well as blank spaces for client generated issues. Imagine working with a client in this workplace. Draw 5-10 circles and add in the most pressing issues that employees need help addressing at this workplace, like exercise, healthy eating, stress, discontentment, etc. (see example: MI pg. 110 - Box 9.1)

Please address some or all of the following questions below in your discussion prompt:
Once you have made the menu, develop an introduction you would use to present it. Now, imagine your client laughs at choosing only one item. Provide an explanation you would offer in response. Remember, your goal is not to persuade but rather offer information about why it would be helpful to focus.
What is your workplace?
What issues do they face?
How would you reflect back the issues you “heard” to the client?
How would you help focus the scope of the work? What ‘issue’ would you start with and why?
How were you able to join with the client around a shared goal?