Every therapist knows the frustration of trying to help ambivalent clients who are stuck between wanting change and not wanting it. In this workshop, you'll discover the power of Motivational Interviewing for tipping the balance toward committing to therapeutic change. At one time used only in substance abuse counseling. Motivational Interviewing has been taken up by therapists treating depression, anxiety, eating disorders, psychosis, and health-related issues because it's proven so effective in activating clients to change. Through a live demonstration, you'll learn how to apply the four essential features of Motivational Interviewing--expressing empathy and creating safety by understanding the client's perspective; developing awareness of the discrepancy between clients' problematic behaviors and their larger goals and cherished values; avoiding unproductive exchanges by rolling with resistance; and developing clients' confidence in their own efficacy. You'll leave knowing how to slow down clients' frantic oscillation between pros and cons, so that they can view difficult choices from a fresh perspective and approach decision-making in a new, more thoughtful way. (This session will continue in Workshop 329.)