Do Better Pod Live Oct 2024: Motivational Interviewing with Callie Plattner

In this episode, Dr. Megan and Joe interview Callie Plattner about Motivational Interviewing! AI SUMMARY FROM FATHOM 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