From Expert to Guide: Motivational Interviewing Skills for BCBA Coaches

Behavior analysts are often trained to identify problems and recommend solutions, but effective coaching may require a more collaborative approach. This practical session introduces foundational Motivational Interviewing (MI) strategies to help BCBAs shift from directive consultant to skilled guide. Participants will explore techniques such as open-ended questions, reflective listening, and eliciting change talk to help clients identify barriers, generate solutions, and strengthen commitment to meaningful behavior change.

1. 1Differentiate directive consultation from coaching approaches that use collaborative, autonomy-supportive communication. Identify examples of open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summaries (OARS) within professional coaching conversations. Demonstrate at least two Motivational Interviewing strategies for eliciting client-generated solutions and increasing commitment to behavior change.