Whose Side Are You On? Lessons from Motivational Interviewing

When someone is considering a vaccine but expresses hesitancy, it can be tempting to tell the person all the reasons why they should get the vaccine. Although this is well-intentioned, the result is predictable: “Yes, but . . .” A conflict often ensues: The helper offers more reasons and tries harder to persuade, and the person feels attacked and digs into their  position. It feels as though you are on opposite sides, both trying to defend your perspectives.

What would the conversation look like if, instead, you were side-by-side, looking at the situation together? What if, instead of trying to convince the person to do what you thought was the right thing, you talked through the situation with them, trying to understand their perspective and values?

This sense of partnership is at the heart of the Motivational Interviewing (MI) approach. First described in 1983, MI is a way of having conversation that builds a person’s own motivation and reasons for change and respects that the decision belongs to them. MI has been evaluated in more than 2,000 clinical trials, ranging across a variety of issues and contexts, with a small but growing body of research focused on vaccine attitudes.

How does MI handle ambivalence? By not trying to fix a problem and approaching the issue with  compassion and curiosity. Resisting the impulse to persuade and correct can be a challenge, but is worth the investment. Although MI sounds simple, developing proficiency involves training, coaching, and feedback.

Interested in learning more? See our free downloadable PDFs at https://www.boostoregon.org/motivational-interviewing and contact us at training@boostoregon.org for training information!