top of page
Blog
What is DARN CAT in motivational interviewing and how do I use it to respond to change talk?
DARN CAT is a way to listen for and organize different kinds of “change talk” in motivational interviewing so you can spot when someone is talking themselves toward change and gently help them go further. It stands for Desire, Ability, Reasons, Need, Commitment, Activation, and Taking steps...
Jun 163 min read
What is “sustain talk” in motivational interviewing, and how should I respond when I hear it?
In motivational interviewing, “sustain talk” is any language that leans toward staying the same – their own reasons, needs, or intentions to keep things as they are around a specific behavior.
Apr 216 min read
MTSS, SEL, and Motivational Interviewing: Making the System Talk Part 2: Tier 1 Conversations – MI in the Classroom and Hallways
Tier 1 is easy to overlook in a series about MI, because many people picture MI as something you do in an office with the door closed. In practice, the same habits that make MI powerful in counseling show up in ordinary teaching: how you respond when a student shrugs off an assignment, how you handle defiance with an audience of peers watching, how you listen when a student admits something vulnerable in the middle of class.
Apr 108 min read
MTSS, SEL, and Motivational Interviewing: Making the System Talk
Discover how Motivational Interviewing can strengthen MTSS and SEL, turning Tier 1, 2, and 3 conversations into real student engagement and follow‑through
Apr 37 min read
bottom of page