Motivational Interviewing for Physical Therapists

Great rehabilitation plans only work when patients actually follow them.Motivational Interviewing for Physical Therapists shows you how to turn difficult conversations about adherence, fear, motivation, and behavior change into collaborative clinical encounters that help patients take greater ownership of their recovery. Written specifically for physical therapy and rehabilitation practice, this practical guide translates motivational interviewing into situations you face every day-from home exercise non-adherence and chronic pain to fear of reinjury, fall prevention, and return to sport. Inside, you'll learn how to: - Build stronger therapeutic alliances through partnership, acceptance, compassion, and evocation- Apply the four MI processes: engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning- Use OARS-open questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summaries-in real patient conversations- Recognize change talk, sustain talk, ambivalence, and the "righting reflex"- Improve conversations around home exercise program adherence and behavior change- Address fear-avoidance, kinesiophobia, chronic pain, and low confidence without confrontation- Adapt motivational interviewing for older adults, athletes, diverse cultural settings, and different health-literacy levels- Integrate MI-informed communication into evaluations, documentation, ethics, and multidisciplinary practiceStructured across 30 focused chapters in six progressive parts, the book moves from foundational theory to practical rehabilitation applications, supported by clinical illustrations, diagrams, and a glossary for quick reference. Whether you are a practicing physical therapist, PTA, rehabilitation clinician, or student, this guide can help you make patient-centered communication a practical clinical…