Application of the Six Signs of Readiness

This week our focus is on the planning stage of MI. We've moved from the engaging to focusing to evoking and now to planning. Please select one of the 2 activities to complete this week (or both if you'd like - but only 1 is required).
The 6 signs of readiness are:
Increased change talk: client talks about possibility of change
Decreased sustain talk: less defense of current behavior/status quo
Taking steps: doing something small to change
Resolve: person is calm and more resolved and ready to change
Questions about change: they start asking questions about how to change
Envisioning: they are envisioning and imagining what the change will look like
Activity #1: Listening for signs of readiness
Keeping the 6 signs of readiness in mind, please read through the following statements and write which of the 6 signs you here (can be one or multiple), why you chose that, and whether or not you think this statement signals a possible readiness for change. (Can be short: 1-3 sentences)
A) “This is not what I expected. I thought you would be more in my face about the DUI. It has been more like a learning exercise than a jail term. It really made me think, and I wasn’t expecting to do that.”
B) “So what do you other clients say about this?”
C) “I agree it would be good to make some low risk choices but I also like to have fun with my friends. I have too much fun with them.”
D) “You don’t understand. These women aren’t going to take “no thanks” for an answer. They are going to hound me. Ive got to come back with something stronger.”
E) “You know I am not very social but I have been trying to speak up here.”
F) “I wont be in this situation again. It sucks. I am so embarrassed.”
G) “I don't see any point in talking about it.”
Activity #2: Developing Transitional Summaries
Recapitulating, aka summarizing, bridges evoking into planning and recounts the overall picture and then asks key questions about how to make a change. Let’s practice this together. Listen to the story and then:
1) Indicate that you are going to restate what you think you heard_____________
2) Share a brief statement of the client’s ambivalence to begin the process______
3) State where you think the client is now and that you have heard change talk___
4) Ask a question about what happens next________________________
Please read the following 2 client statements and write up transitional summaries for each using the 4 steps outlined above.
A) Client statement (target behavior: studying for school)
“I don't want my mother brought into this. I don't see why she would need to be. I know some things need to change and I have been talking about it with my Dad. He is in charge. I know I need to get some things going if I want to graduate. I have sorta been talking w my teachers about this and I know what I need to do. There is a lot I need to do between now and the end of the year. ”
B) Client statement (target behavior: writing):