Recognizing and Reinforcing Change Talk

-Look for ambivalent supervisees to make arguments for why they should change (Change Talk) and shouldn’t change (Sustain Talk).

-If you hear a supervisee express desire, ability, reason or need to change, it is preparatory change talk and a sign that they are preparing to change.

-If you hear a supervisee express specifics about taking steps to change, it is mobilizing change talk, and a sign that they are committed to change.

-Reinforce change talk through questions that ask for elaboration, affirming change talk, reflecting change talk, and summarizing change talk.

-Respond to sustain talk with a strategic response that moves the conversation in another direction.

-Change talk examples