OARS and Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing Resource by William Miller

A clear and practical overview of the core communication skills in Motivational Interviewing. In this short guide, William Miller introduces OARS, an acronym for Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, and Summaries, the foundational counseling skills that strengthen engagement and collaboration.

This article explains how these skills help practitioners foster empathy, reduce defensiveness, and guide conversations toward change. It’s an essential resource for anyone developing or refining MI practice.

Use this resource to:

  • Review the four essential OARS communication skills

  • Strengthen client engagement and empathy in MI

  • Support supervision, training, or ongoing professional development

Learn more about MI training at Psychwire’s Motivational Interviewing courses.

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OARS and Motivational Interviewing

A clear and practical overview of the core communication skills in Motivational Interviewing by William Miller