In this episode of MI For Change, we explore one of the most misunderstood concepts in therapy and behavior change: resistance.

What if your client isn’t actually resistant?

In Motivational Interviewing, what we often label as “resistance” can be better understood as:

• Sustained talk (arguments against change)
• Discord (a breakdown in the relationship or communication)

And that distinction can completely transform your sessions.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• The difference between resistance, sustained talk, and discord
• Why labeling clients as “resistant” can be harmful to the therapeutic process
• How to recognize early signs of discord in sessions
• Practical Motivational Interviewing questions to reduce defensiveness
• How to shift from confrontation to collaboration
• How to bring conversations back to trust, curiosity, and partnership

If you’re a:
• BCBA
• Therapist
• Psychologist
• Counselor
• Educator
• Or anyone working with behavior change

This episode will give you practical tools to improve communication, increase client buy-in, and create more effective sessions.

Remember:
It’s not about controlling the client…
It’s about guiding the conversation.

Learn more about Motivational Interviewing and explore on-demand courses at www.drmonicagilbert.com

Join the MI Academy for practical training and resources — and enjoy an exclusive 15% off with code MIFORCHANGE at checkout.

📲 Connect with me on Instagram: @drmonicagilbert

What happens when two professionals want the same outcome for a child… but speak completely different languages?

In this episode of MI for Change, I’m joined by Rose Griffin, a speech therapist and BCBA, to talk about one of the biggest challenges in our field: collaboration between SLPs and BCBAs.

We talk about where miscommunication happens, why jargon creates unnecessary walls, and how Motivational Interviewing can help us approach these conversations with more curiosity, less defensiveness, and better outcomes for families.

In this conversation, we cover:

• Where collaboration between SLPs and BCBAs often breaks down
• Why jargon and assumptions create so much friction
• How social media has shaped perceptions of ABA
• What clinicians can do to enter difficult conversations with more curiosity
• Why parents should never be stuck in the middle of professional disagreements
• Small communication shifts that can strengthen collaboration immediately

This episode is for BCBAs, SLPs, OTs, psychologists, educators, and anyone who wants to work better across disciplines.

Because at the end of the day, we all want the same thing:
better outcomes for the child and less stress for the family.

Learn more about Motivational Interviewing and explore on-demand courses at www.drmonicagilbert.com

Join the MI Academy for practical training and resources — and enjoy an exclusive 15% off with code MIFORCHANGE at checkout.

📲 Connect with me on Instagram: @drmonicagilbert

Helping your clients sounds like the right thing to do.

But sometimes… helping too much actually creates the opposite of what we want.

In this episode of MI for Change, we talk about prompt dependency — a concept familiar in ABA, but one that shows up in therapy, parent coaching, and leadership as well.

Prompt dependency happens when clients begin to rely on the therapist for answers, direction, or solutions… instead of developing the confidence to problem-solve on their own.

And often, it happens with the best intentions.

In this episode we explore:

• What prompt dependency actually looks like in therapy
• Why over-helping feels good to the therapist (even when it backfires)
• How giving answers too quickly blocks autonomy and confidence
• Why silence can be one of the most powerful clinical tools
• How Motivational Interviewing shifts us from directing to evoking

Because the real goal of therapy isn’t to be needed forever.

It’s to help clients realize they don’t need us as much as they thought.

Learn more about Motivational Interviewing and explore on-demand courses at www.drmonicagilbert.com

Join the MI Academy for practical training and resources — and enjoy an exclusive 15% off with code MIFORCHANGE at checkout.

📲 Connect with me on Instagram: @drmonicagilbert