DAY 17 - End on a High Note

Acknowledge the difficult and end with the dream

I want to thank all those who sent me guest prompts in response to my request yesterday (Ask for Help). They are wonderful! Keep them coming!

Rual writes: “I’m loving this challenge - I find the daily prompts sit gently at the back of my mind throughout the day which is helping with all interactions- not just with clients. It’s helping me be very mindful. 😊”

Thanks Rual!

Todays prompt is from Matt Ashby

Todays Prompt: DAY 17 - End on a High Note

I co-run an AmeriCorps program that trains members to use MI as a tool to support young people with increasing their sense of autonomy, belonging, and self-efficacy in their learning. We were trained by some MINT people early on and have adapted the training to match the contexts/situations members most often experience with youth.

I appreciated today's prompt to ask for help when stuck, and that the youth/client themselves might be the best person to ask. It emphasizes the collaborative spirit of the process, elicits ideas/resources from the youth, and reduces the "fix-it" tendency we have by acknowledging we don't know it all. Beautiful.

I wanted to offer up a simple concept our program generated in trying to support members (and ourselves) with improving the quality of MI use. It's a way of conceptualizing complex reflections and, at its best, emphasizing change talk, as well.

Program staff Lani Ortiz calls it "ending on a high note." Our staff noticed that we often default to simple reflections when using MI. So a youth/client might say, "I want to do well on my test but I'm too tired to focus." A simple reflection could be. "You care about school but you're distracted right now." The reflection ends on a difficulty.

An example of ending on a high note might be: "You could use some more sleep and it's important to you to do well on the test."

When doing a complex reflection that includes acknowledgement of a difficult emotion or situation, it can be helpful to "end on a high note," offering a sense of workability, and emphasizing their own reasons, values, goals (i.e. DARN CAT).

Thanks again for your work and care!

Matt Ashby

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And thank you!

100 Days of MI is free. And I’m super glad so many folks are enjoying the daily posts!
Offering you comments is free too, so please keep them coming! comment

I have also set up a paid subscription level for folks who want to help support the work, and as a little thank you to you, I am doing a Quick Class video each week.

Here’s the recording of last week’s MI Snack, on The Decisional Balance. I think anyone can access this via the free seven day trial. It was a good one!

Wishing you a great day of Ending on a High Note!

And please tell us how it goes

Sky

End on a high note and then give it a rest.

Comments from yesterdays prompt: “Wonder”

“I once found myself at an impasse with a client. I summarized where we were and asked: in what direction would you like to continue this conversation to make it most useful for you. It's been a wonderful collaborative experience.” - Florence

“To the very young client: “I can see how difficult it is for you to do this work while you are so anxious. What could we do together for you to bear that anxiety? I have some ideas but I like to hear you first” - Firouzeh

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MI INTERMEDIATE CLASS:
The Power of Change Talk
June 13, 2025

FEELINGS FORUM
How to deepen MI conversations
when uncomfortable feelings (like sadness or anger) come up.
Wed, June 4, 2025, 3:30-5:00
More info here

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We are all in this together

Sky Kershner, LPC, ALPS, LCSW, DMin
Assistant Professor, WVU School of Medicine
MINT Certified Trainer of Motivational Interviewing
AAMFT Approved Supervisor / Member IEDTA / PACT L2
304-220-0088 / www.wv-mi.com / the mi-ai practice space