If open-ended questions help steer the conversation, Reflective Listening keeps it grounded. It is one of the most effective skills in MI for reducing tension and understanding what matters most to your client.
In its simplest form, reflective listening means mirroring back what a client says. Complex reflections go beneath the surface, exploring the meaning and feeling underneath with the client is saying.
Reflections generally happen at two levels:
When clients express reluctance, jumping in with advice usually increases tension. Reflective listening offers a way to de-escalate.
Learning how to reply to pushback using double-sided reflections allows you to acknowledge their hesitation without arguing back:
Reflecting both sides of their struggle with “and” removes the need for them to defend their stance.
Download our OARS cheat sheet pdf for an overview of the core skills with examples.
To truly hone your reflective listening and receive personalized feedback, enroll in our Motivational Interviewing training
Initial draft outline and post structure generated with the assistance of Gemini (Google), then reviewed, revised, and expanded by CCMI.
