Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based communication approach used to help people explore ambivalence and strengthen motivation for behavior change. Rather than directing or persuading, MI emphasizes collaboration, empathy, and respect for autonomy.
One of the core skill frameworks used within motivational interviewing is OARS, which stands for Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, and Summaries. These skills guide how MI conversations are conducted and help practitioners engage clients in a thoughtful, client-centered way.
This article explains OARS as a core skill framework used within Motivational Interviewing (MI). It does not re-explain MI in full. Instead, it focuses on how each OARS skill functions in practice, common challenges when using them, and how they are applied across coaching, counseling, and other helping contexts.
In This Post
- How OARS Fits Within Motivational Interviewing
- What does OARS stand for in Motivational Interviewing?
- What is OARS?
- Using OARS in Motivational Interviewing Conversations
- What are Some Common Challenges?
- Applying OARS in Different Contexts
- What OARS Is — and Is Not
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Download the OARS Motivational Interviewing Cheat Sheet
- Take Away
How OARS Fits Within Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing is guided by a specific conversational style that prioritizes collaboration, empathy, and respect for autonomy. Within this approach, OARS provides the core communication skills practitioners use moment to moment during conversations.
Rather than functioning as a separate method, OARS supports the practical application of Motivational Interviewing by shaping how questions are asked, how responses are reflected, and how conversations are
structured.
When used together, the OARS skills help practitioners:
- Invite clients to explore their own perspectives through open-ended questions
- Acknowledge strengths, efforts, and values through affirmations
- Deepen understanding and highlight meaning through reflective listening
- Organize and reinforce key themes through summaries
These skills allow conversations to remain client-centered while encouraging deeper reflection and self-directed change. OARS does not replace the broader motivational interviewing framework; instead, it operationalizes how MI conversations are conducted in practice.
In the sections that follow, each OARS skill is explained individually, with examples and guidance on how it is commonly used within motivational interviewing conversations.
What does OARS stand for in Motivational Interviewing?
In motivational interviewing, OARS is an acronym that represents four core communication skills: Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, and Summaries. These skills are used together to support collaborative, client-centered conversations and are applied throughout the motivational interviewing process.
What is OARS?
OARS is a set of core communication skills used within motivational interviewing. It supports collaborative, client-centered conversations by helping practitioners build rapport, understand client perspectives, and structure reflective dialogue.
OARS is commonly taught in motivational interviewing training and is described by Miller and Rollnick in Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change (3rd ed.). Within the motivational interviewing framework, OARS represents how conversations are conducted moment to moment, rather than functioning as a
standalone method or approach to behavior change.
Open-Ended Questions
Within motivational interviewing, open-ended questions are used to encourage clients to share more details and explore their thoughts and experiences in their own words. Unlike closed-ended questions, which can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no,” open-ended questions prompt deeper thinking and longer responses.
Examples of open-ended questions include:
- “What brings you here today?”
- “How would you like things to be different?”
- “What have you tried before to make a change?”
These questions give clients space to express themselves and clarify what matters most to them. Open-ended questions also help practitioners better understand the client’s perspective while reinforcing collaboration and autonomy.
Additional examples of MI-consistent open-ended questions can be found in our motivational interviewing questions resource.
Affirmations
Within motivational interviewing, affirmations are statements that recognize a client’s strengths, efforts, or positive intentions. Affirmations are used to support confidence and reinforce the client’s ability to move toward change.
In their book, Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change (3rd ed.), Miller and Rollnick share
several important guidelines for using affirmations effectively:
- Focus on the client.
Affirmations should highlight the client’s strengths or efforts. Avoid starting with “I,” as it shifts the focus to the practitioner.
Example: “You’ve worked really hard on this.” - Avoid praise.
Affirmation is different from praise. Praise can feel judgmental or hierarchical, whereas affirmations recognize strengths without evaluation.
Example: Replace “I’m proud of you” with “You stayed committed to your goal this week.” - Recognize specific actions.
Acknowledge concrete steps or behaviors the client has demonstrated.
Example: “You made three job inquiries this week—that’s a meaningful step forward.” - Reframe challenges as progress.
Setbacks can be reflected in ways that highlight growth or effort.
Example: “You’re frustrated about missing your plan, but compared to where you started, this shows real progress.” - Highlight personal strengths.
Focus on qualities such as persistence, resilience, or determination.
Example: “You’ve been through a lot, and you’re still showing up.” - Be genuine and encouraging.
Simple, sincere affirmations can significantly strengthen rapport and trust.
Example: “It’s good to see you back,” or “You have a lot of determination.”
Used appropriately, affirmations help create a supportive environment without positioning the practitioner as an authority over the client.
Reflective Listening
Reflective listening is a core communication skill in motivational interviewing and involves restating or paraphrasing what a client has said to demonstrate understanding. This skill shows the client that they are being heard and encourages further exploration of their thoughts and feelings.
There are different levels of reflection:
- Simple reflections repeat key words or phrases the client has used.
- Complex reflections add meaning, emotion, or emphasis to what the client has expressed.
For example:
Client: “I’m tired of always feeling stressed at work.”
Simple reflection: “You’re feeling stressed at work.”
Complex reflection: “It sounds like your job has been taking a real toll on you.”
Reflective listening helps clients hear their own thoughts aloud, which can lead to new insights or shifts in perspective. Rather than directing or correcting, reflections guide the conversation while maintaining empathy and collaboration.
Summaries
Miller and Rollnick describe summaries as reflections that consolidate key points a client has shared during a conversation. Summaries demonstrate that the client’s words are heard and valued, while helping organize thoughts and reinforce understanding.
In Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change (3rd ed.), Miller and Rollnick describe five types of summaries:
- Collecting summaries, which gather and reflect back key points shared so far
- Linking summaries, which connect current statements with earlier discussions
- Transitional summaries, which signal a shift in focus or topic
- Ambivalence summaries, which reflect both sustain talk and change talk
- Recapitulation summaries, which provide an overview of the entire conversation
Effective summaries are typically brief, selective, and grounded in the client’s own words. They often end with a check for accuracy.
For example:
“So far, we’ve talked about your stress at work, your efforts to exercise more, and your goal of spending more time with your family. Did I get that right?”
Summaries help clients reflect on what they have shared and support continued exploration within the motivational interviewing process.
Using OARS in Motivational Interviewing Conversations
Within motivational interviewing, OARS skills are used throughout conversations rather than in a fixed sequence. Practitioners draw on open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summaries as needed to support collaboration and exploration. The sections below describe when these skills are commonly used and how they may appear in practice.
When to Use OARS?
OARS techniques are useful throughout the motivational interviewing process. You can apply them at any stage of change a client is in.
Use Open questions when you want to gather information or explore the client’s perspective. They help start conversations and encourage deeper reflection.
Affirmations work well to build rapport and boost confidence. Use them when you notice positive steps or strengths the client demonstrates.
Reflective listening is key for showing empathy and checking understanding. Apply it frequently to validate the client’s experiences and feelings.
Summarizing helps tie ideas together and move the conversation forward. Use it to wrap up topics or transition to new areas of discussion.
You can combine OARS methods for greater impact. For example, follow an open question with a reflection to deepen the exploration of an issue.
OARS are especially helpful when clients seem stuck or resistant. These techniques can gently guide them toward considering change without pushing too hard.
Example Dialogue Using OARS
Practitioner:
“Tell me more about what’s been going on with your health and fitness lately.” (Open-ended question)
Client:
“I know I need to exercise, but I just don’t have the time. By the time I get home from work, I’m too exhausted.”
Practitioner:
“It sounds like work takes up a lot of your energy, and by the time you’re home, you really need to recharge.” (Reflective listening)
Client:
“Yeah, exactly. I sit at a desk all day, and when I get home, I just want to relax.”
Practitioner:
“That makes sense. You’ve been working hard all day, and relaxation is important too. It’s great that you’re still thinking about ways to improve your health despite your busy schedule.” (Affirmation)
Client:
“Yeah, I do want to be healthier, but I just don’t see how I can fit exercise in.”
Practitioner:
“You want to improve your health, but finding time for exercise is a challenge. Maybe we can brainstorm small ways to include movement in your day without it feeling overwhelming. What are some activities you enjoy that don’t take much time?” (Summarization + Open-ended question)
Client:
“Well, I used to enjoy walking on my lunch breaks. I just stopped doing it when work got so busy.”
Practitioner:
“That’s a great insight! You already know something that worked for you before. How do you feel about trying that again, even if just for a few minutes?” (Reflective listening + Encouraging Change Talk)
This approach helps build rapport and encourages the client to explore their motivations for change.
What are Some Common Challenges?
OARS skills can be tricky to master. You might face some hurdles as you learn to use them well. Here are some common challenges and tips to help you improve.
Avoiding Closed-Ended Questions
Closed-ended questions can limit conversations. They often lead to short “yes” or “no” answers. This can make it hard to get useful info from clients.
Try to use open-ended questions instead. These start with words like “how,” “what,” or “tell me about.” They help clients share more details and thoughts.
For example, instead of asking, “Did you enjoy the activity?” try, “What did you think about the activity?” This gives clients room to express themselves fully.
Practice makes perfect. Keep working on turning closed questions into open ones. You’ll get better at it over time.
Affirmations Without Overuse
Affirmations can boost client confidence. But using too many can seem fake or pushy.
Pick your moments for affirmations. Use them when clients share real progress or efforts. Be specific about what you’re affirming.
Instead of a vague “Good job,” try “You showed great patience in that tough situation.” This feels more genuine and meaningful.
Mix affirmations with other OARS skills. This keeps the conversation balanced and natural.
Remember, quality beats quantity. A few well-placed affirmations work better than constant praise.
Reflective Listening Without Parroting
Reflective listening helps show you understand clients. But it’s easy to fall into just repeating their words.
Try to reflect the meaning behind what clients say, not just the words. Use different phrases to show you get the idea.
If a client says, “I’m tired of this job,” you might reflect: “It sounds like you’re feeling frustrated with your work situation.”
Add your own understanding to reflections. This shows you’re really listening and thinking about what they’re saying.
Don’t worry if you get it wrong sometimes. Clients can correct you, which can lead to deeper conversations.
Summarizing Without Overwhelming
Summaries help wrap up key points. But long summaries can be boring or confusing.
Keep summaries short and focused. Pick out the most important things the client has said.
Use the client’s own words when you can. This shows you’ve been listening closely.
Try linking ideas in your summary. For example: “You mentioned feeling stressed at work, and it seems this is affecting your sleep too.”
Ask if you’ve missed anything important. This gives clients a chance to add or correct info.
Practice making summaries shorter over time. You’ll get better at picking out the key points quickly.
Applying OARS in Different Contexts
OARS techniques can be used in many different settings to help people make positive changes. These skills work well in coaching, counseling, healthcare, and addiction treatment.
OARS in Coaching
In coaching, OARS helps clients clarify their goals and motivations. Open-ended questions encourage self-reflection, affirmations build confidence, reflective listening ensures the coach understands the client’s struggles, and summarization helps clients gain clarity on their next steps. For example, a coach might use OARS to help a client identify career aspirations, overcome self-doubt, and create an actionable growth plan.
OARS in Counseling and Psychotherapy
In counseling, OARS facilitates emotional exploration and self-awareness. Open-ended questions help clients express their thoughts, affirmations validate their emotions, reflective listening reinforces understanding, and summarization ensures key concerns are acknowledged. Counselors use OARS to help clients process anxiety, depression, or personal struggles while fostering self-compassion and coping strategies.
OARS in Health Care Settings
In healthcare, OARS is used to encourage treatment adherence and lifestyle changes. Open-ended questions explore a patient’s concerns about their health, affirmations reinforce positive efforts, reflective listening helps patients feel heard, and summarization organizes key takeaways. A doctor might use OARS to guide a patient struggling with medication adherence toward a realistic and sustainable health plan.
OARS in Addiction Treatment and Recovery
In addiction treatment, OARS helps clients navigate ambivalence about quitting. Open-ended questions encourage discussion about substance use, affirmations acknowledge their efforts, reflective listening highlights motivations for change, and summarization reinforces commitment to recovery. Therapists use OARS to help clients recognize their strengths and take ownership of their recovery process.
What OARS Is — and Is Not
What OARS is:
- A set of core communication skills used within motivational interviewing
- A framework that supports collaborative, client-centered conversations
- A way to structure reflective dialogue and engagement during MI conversations
What OARS is not:
- A standalone behavior change method
- A scripted technique or checklist to follow step by step
- A substitute for the broader motivational interviewing framework
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OARS the same as motivational interviewing?
No. OARS is a set of core communication skills used within motivational interviewing. Motivational interviewing is a broader, evidence-based approach, while OARS describes how conversations are conducted within that approach.
Can OARS be used without motivational interviewing?
OARS skills may appear in many helping conversations, but they are designed to be used within the motivational interviewing framework. Using OARS without MI principles can change how the skills function in practice.
Is OARS a technique or a method?
OARS is not a standalone method or technique. It is a skills framework that supports motivational interviewing conversations.
Do practitioners use OARS in a specific order?
No. OARS skills are used flexibly throughout conversations rather than in a fixed sequence.
Is OARS used only in coaching?
No. OARS is used across coaching, counseling, healthcare, and other helping professions as part of motivational interviewing practice.
Download the OARS Motivational Interviewing Cheat Sheet
Take Away
OARS represents the core communication skills that support motivational interviewing conversations in practice. When used within the broader motivational interviewing framework, these skills help maintain collaboration, empathy, and respect for client autonomy.
Understanding OARS as a supporting skill set—rather than a standalone approach—allows practitioners to apply it consistently and appropriately across conversations. As part of motivational interviewing, OARS helps structure dialogue in a way that supports reflection, engagement, and self-directed exploration.
