Which MI technique involves asking clients to talk about the pros and cons of changing?

Which MI technique involves asking clients to talk about the pros and cons of changing?

• A. Eliciting decisional balance (pros and cons of change vs. staying the same).
• B. Providing information about risks of substance use.
• C. Offering resistance to change.
• D. Setting goals without client input.

Answer: (A)

The technique focuses on exploring ambivalence by eliciting decisional balance. In Motivational Interviewing, asking clients to spell out the pros and cons of changing versus staying the same helps them voice their own reasons for and against change. This self-generated reflection strengthens intrinsic motivation, keeps the conversation collaborative, and moves the client toward consideration of change through their own language and values. It’s more effective than simply giving information, which can feel directive; it’s more constructive than pushing resistance or setting goals without input, which undermine autonomy and engagement.

The technique focuses on exploring ambivalence by eliciting decisional balance. In Motivational Interviewing, asking clients to spell out the pros and cons of changing versus staying the same helps them voice their own reasons for and against change. This self-generated reflection strengthens intrinsic motivation, keeps the conversation collaborative, and moves the client toward consideration of change through their own language and values. It’s more effective than simply giving information, which can feel directive; it’s more constructive than pushing resistance or setting goals without input, which undermine autonomy and engagement.