Motivational Interviewing in Schools

Stephen Rollnick, PhD, is Honorary Distinguished Professor in the School of Medicine at Cardiff University, Wales, United Kingdom. He is cofounder of motivational interviewing, with a career in clinical psychology and academia that focused on how to improve conversations about change, and helped to create the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (https://motivationalinterviewing.org). He has worked in diverse fields, with special interests in mental health and long-term health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS. Dr. Rollnick has published widely in scientific journals and has written many books on helping people to change behavior. He is coauthor (with William R. Miller) of four editions of the classic work Motivational Interviewing. He has traveled worldwide to train practitioners in many settings and cultures, and he now works as a trainer and consultant in health care and sports. His website is www.stephenrollnick.com.Sebastian G. Kaplan, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Section, at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. A former special education teacher, Dr. Kaplan currently focuses his clinical work on helping adolescents and their families overcome a variety of challenges to their growth and development. He has written and presented on the application of MI for pediatricians, mental health providers, and school personnel, and is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers.Richard Rutschman, EdD, is Senior Program Manager and Professional Development Facilitator at the Center for College Access and Success (formerly the Chicago Teachers’ Center) at Northeastern Illinois University. His professional experience in Chicago schools has included being a high school science and Spanish teacher and the principal of an alternative high school. Throughout his career, he has worked to support school improvement efforts focusing on student retention, engagement, leadership development, and preparation for postsecondary education. Dr. Rutschman is a recipient of the Michael Stratton Practitioner Award from the International Association for Experiential Education, for his work using adventure initiatives in Chicago schools, and is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers.

"MI is grounded in a core belief that people can arrive at solutions to their problems or challenges if someone asks them the right questions. This book gives educators the keys to help students grapple with complex issues and decisions. MI can help you have a much more positive influence than simply telling a student what to do or how to do it."--Chad H. Adams, MA, Principal, Roger C. Sullivan High School, Chicago Public Schools"Good relationships in school are important, and this book offers a way forward--down-to-earth guidelines for improving interactions with students. After reading the book, I have been inspired to practice the skills every day."--Andy Williams, Deputy Head, Monmouth Comprehensive School, Wales, United Kingdom"The authors have provided teachers with a rich resource for initiating a new and productive conversation style with students. The book is filled with clear instructions and detailed examples to guide teachers in changing their communication habits to become more student focused, autonomy affirming, and motivational. It is easy to read and perfectly aligned with the latest developments in MI. This book would be a useful supplement to teacher behavior management coursework as a tool for integrating motivational conversations into effective classroom management practices and routines."--Keith C. Herman, PhD, Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri"Every teacher is concerned about promoting positive motivation in students. This book shows exactly how to do so, not with the use of any special program but with everyday conversational interactions. MI begins with engagement, moves to focusing, evokes children's goals and aspirations, and guides them in planning for accomplishment. Students are not explicitly asked to change, but change they do, and this book is filled with tips, scripts, examples, and practical wisdom toward building teachers' expertise in this essential skill area."--Maurice J. Elias, PhD, Director, Rutgers Social–Emotional and Character Development Lab, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey"With growing international interest in school-based MI, this publication from leading authors in the field is important and timely. Educators will appreciate the accessible style, illustrative examples, practice activities, and usable resources. The authors summarize existing research and show how teachers and other professionals can use MI in such areas as bullying and postschool transition. This book represents a major contribution to a fast-developing area of practice."--Cathy Atkinson, DEdPsy, Curriculum Director, Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology Program, University of Manchester, United Kingdom"This book is for any teacher or other school professional who has ever felt 'stuck' and unsure of how to best help a student or family maximize their school journey. MI has proven to be an effective evidence-based practice for having productive conversations about change, but many educators are unfamiliar with it. The book provides specific skills and strategies you can use to help students plan for change and to give advice in a collaborative yet goal-oriented manner. It will revolutionize how you approach your interactions with students and families."--Mariann Suarez, PhD, ABPP, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida Health, Morsani College of Medicine"As the role of MI is becoming more significant in schools, this is an ideal book to help teachers learn about the topic. Rollnick, Kaplan, and Rutschman provide an excellent introduction to MI and a guide to using it in schools today."--T. Chris Riley-Tillman, PhD, Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri–Columbia"As educators, we often fall into the trap of thinking that we can magically change students' behavior through consequences, cajoling, or coercion. MI flips that notion to the idea of assisting students to tap into their own motivation through supportive and reflective conversations. This book presents research, theory, strategies, and tools that enable us to think differently about why students behave in ways we would like to change, and how to help them grow and learn. I plan to buy this book for many of my colleagues and friends."--Laurie Frank, director, GOAL Consulting; author of Journey Toward the Caring Classroom -The book provides the practitioner (school counselor/social worker, teacher, or administrator) a path toward the skills and disposition needed to guide clients in creating their own path to success....[It] is presented in an easy-to-read format….The language is accessible to almost any reader who has regular student contact….This reviewer found the book most useful for personal development, specifically improvement of engagement and relationship building in direct practice….The book offers several solid interventions in the MI spirit that respond to contemporary educational concerns including behavior, learning in the classroom context, bullying, and dropout prevention….As I have lately said to colleagues, I highly recommend Motivational Interviewing in Schools. Just don't take my copy; I can't part with it.--School Social Work Journal, 4/2/2018ƒƒThis is a gem of a book. Having reviewed many of the books on MI, this one with Rollnick taking one of the lead author positions, is one of the best encountered. It is straightforward, highly informative, easy to read, and clear in its presentation of ideas and strategies….It can be highly suggested as an easy, yet comprehensive and thorough read for graduate students wishing greater familiarity with this highly important strategy.--Child and Family Behavior Therapy, 3/1/2017ƒƒMotivational Interviewing in Schools is a useful resource.--PsycCRITIQUES, 1/1/2017

• I. Overview of Motivational Interviewing1. Conversations about Change2. What Is MI?3. The Spirit and Style of MI4. A Conversation Map: Four Processes5. Core Skills6. Evoking: The Heart of MI7. Planning Changes8. The MI Approach to Giving Information and AdviceII. In Practice9. Behavior, Behavior, Behavior10. Learning11. Personal Growth12. Working with FamiliesIII. Focused Applications13. Bullying14. At-Risk Students: MI Integrated with Other Approaches15. Dropout Prevention and Reengagement16. Transition to Life after SchoolIV. Broader Horizons17. Improving Your Knowledge and Skills18. Integrating MI in SchoolsReferencesIndex