Re: Motivational Interviewing

hey–

i've done my spiel on my history with the Work in the “inquiry” pod, so won't repeat it here…

I am a mental health and addictions counselor, currently working in the “special offenders” unit at a men's prison here in WA state.  They are 'special' due to their extreme mental illness.  Ever politically correct! 

but, I've been on the non-duality road for 10 years or so officially, but had thought that way long before reading my first book, or meeting the first 'teacher' that I met.  As I said in the other pod, this is difficult to use with the people that I work with, they are all severely mentally ill.  (i mean severely!  hearing voices, seeing demons, etc.)  But I do manage to get a little in….

I've also read “motivational interviewing” and have attended workshops that lean heavily on it, and have seen videos of Miller and Rollnick doing their thing.  Have you seen them?  They are fascinating to me in their ability to be so neutral looking and sounding!  I have a difficult time in general not jumping around a lot, showing expressions of sympathy, etc.  Still, I do use what I can. 

I have considered myself a master at developing therapeutic alliance for a long time!  It just came naturally.  I said about 20 years ago, “if I don't have them by my door, I won't have them for awhile”.  That being, I would go and get them in the waiting room, and was  usually able to 'have them' by the time we reached my office. 

 this is my first week in Zaadz too.  I am working on recruiting some of my more enlightened counselor friends….   thanks for starting this, Billy!

~peace

Shannon