Here’s another guest post from Florence, one of our MI Snack regulars.
Thank you Florence! — Sky
Dare to Record Your MI Practice
by Florence Da Silva
What if you took a step back today?
As part of the 100 Days of Motivational Interviewing challenge, I want to invite you to try something powerful: record a real session (with consent, of course) and... listen back. Yes, really.
But not to judge yourself — to offer yourself a moment of self-compassion. Bring a kind, curious, and encouraging lens to your practice.
Ask yourself:
What in this conversation reflects the spirit of MI?
Which of my responses supported change talk or strengthened the client’s confidence?
Where can I see that the client benefited from this session?
What strengths do I notice in myself as a practitioner?
And gently, maybe later:
What might I have done differently?
How could I carry that insight forward?
This kind of reflective listening is already a gift to yourself.
And one day, you might even want to bring a recording to an individual or group supervision session with a coach, maybe with coding. When that day comes, you’ll be ready — because you’ve already practiced listening to yourself with care.
Dare to try it. You might be surprised by how much you're already doing well.
Florence
Florence DA SILVA
Mail : dasilva.formation.etp@gmail.com
Lin : www.linkedin.com/in/da-silva-florence-2962a8a6
Web : www.temposenso.fr
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We really 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
Thank you, Florence, for today's practice prompt. I appreciate the idea and recognize the importance of recording ourselves, though I must be honest—it remains challenging for me, even after years of practicing public speaking and having the privilege of advancing to area and district competitions.
During the district competition, it was mandatory for every participant to be recorded, with submissions sent to Toastmasters headquarters for their records. That marked my first time seeing myself on video. Despite countless reminders from club members and mentors that "You'll see yourself differently in recordings, and that's how you improve," I wasn't prepared for the experience.
Gradually, I began to embrace viewing myself from this external perspective. It has been quite a journey—sometimes uncomfortable, often eye-opening, but undeniably valuable. Each recording has become a mirror, revealing not just my speaking patterns and gestures, but also my growth over time. What once felt like exposure now feels like an essential tool for improvement.
This process has taught me that our self-perception often differs dramatically from how others see us. The camera doesn't lie, but it also doesn't judge—it simply shows us the truth we need to see to grow.
Thank you, Florence, for today’s prompt. To be completely honest, this exercise is deeply uncomfortable for me. As part of my board certified health coach training, we had to do something similar by recording ourselves, listening back, and practicing with fellow coaches week after week. Let me say as a beginner learning MI and other core competencies; tonality, pausing, and slowing down were constant skills we worked on and I continue to work on. Cringe-worthy? Yes, also incredibly rewarding. It goes to show that there’s so much to “tune up” and the nuances of this practice can really make all the difference in a client/coach conversation. An exciting process. Grateful for the chance to revisit this today.