Module 4: Dealing with challenges – Dealing with disappointment
Dealing with disappointment
Women who haven’t achieved their change goals will certainly be disappointed, and as a practitioner you may also be disappointed that the woman wasn’t able to live up to her promises. It’s in these instances that the MI Spirit can provide guidance for us to approach the discussion with compassion and acceptance, setting the stage for another discussion around change.
Watch Dr Steindl lay out a strategy for health practitioners to help support women when this occurs.
As you saw in the video, creating a safe environment, highlighting the woman's successes despite her difficulties and re-visiting her ambivalence will help you guide her towards a commitment to a new change goal.
Role play - Dealing with disappointment
While you watch this uninterrupted clip of Sarah’s follow-up appointment with the practitioner, apply all that you have learned about motivational interviewing and take note of how he maintains the MI Spirit, uses OARS to keep the conversation moving so he can carry out the tasks of MI, and helps Sarah work through her disappointment and re-commit to change.
