Understanding OARS
One of the most recognizable skill sets associated with Motivational Interviewing is OARS.
OARS stands for:
Open Questions
Open questions encourage people to describe their experiences in their own words.
Instead of:
“Did that upset you?”
consider:
“What was that experience like for you?”
Open questions create room for exploration.
Affirmations
Affirmations recognize meaningful strengths, efforts, intentions, values, or actions.
Effective affirmations are specific and genuine.
For example:
“You continued showing up even when this became difficult.”
Reflections
Reflections communicate what you believe you heard or understood.
They can help people hear their own thoughts differently while demonstrating that the practitioner is genuinely trying to understand.
For example:
“Part of you wants things to change, and another part isn't sure you're ready.”
Summaries
Summaries bring important pieces of a conversation together.
They can help organize complex thoughts, reinforce important statements, and provide a natural transition to the next part of the conversation.
OARS Beyond Motivational Interviewing
These skills are valuable far beyond formal MI conversations.
They can strengthen communication between:
Recovery Professionals and participants
Supervisors and staff
Healthcare providers and patients
Counselors and clients
Family members
Colleagues and teams
Key Takeaway
OARS isn't about finding the perfect thing to say.
It is about becoming more intentional about how we listen, understand, and respond.
