Health Behavior Change: A Guide for Practitioners

In this extremely practical book, Rollnick and colleagues present a method for helping patients change based on the principles and “spirit” of Motivational Interviewing. This book provides a stepwise model based on the tasks to complete during health behavior consultation, as compared to the newer “MI in Health Care” book, which presents a more flexible model for communicating in a guiding style.

After presenting the basic concepts, each chapter focuses on a different task in the consultation process, from building rapport and setting an agenda to increasing motivation for change while minimizing resistance. The techniques presented are intended for use in brief consultations, but may be adapted for more extended encounters. Numerous clinical examples illustrating applications in diverse settings (and even some showing how NOT to do it) bring each strategy to life. Always respectful of the busy practitioner, the authors suggest ways for you to benefit from the book even if you have just a few hours to spend with it, and they encourage “creative adaptation” rather than “slavish adoption” of their approach.

If you want to become better at helping people change health-related behavior, and are new to a Stages of Change or Motivational Interviewing-based approach, this is a great place to start. If you have some experience with Motivational Interviewing, you will find a simplified model, a fresh take on familiar strategies, and probably some new ideas too.

Deborah H. A. Van Horn, Ph. D. – Originally posted March 6, 2002

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