Final answer:
Motivational interviewing relies on 4 central listening skills, referred to as OARS. OARS stands for Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, and Summarizing.
Step-by-step explanation:
OARS is an acronym for the four central listening skills in motivational interviewing. Here is what each letter stands for:
- O: Open-ended questions - These are questions that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no and require more thought and elaboration from the person being interviewed.
- A: Affirmations - These are statements of support and encouragement towards the person being interviewed, recognizing their strengths and efforts.
- R: Reflective listening - This involves paraphrasing and summarizing what the person has said, showing that you are truly understanding their perspective.
- S: Summarizing - This is a way of pulling together the key points and themes from the conversation, helping the person to see the big picture.