Elizabeth Anderson, RD is BariatricPal.com's reporter at large this year at Obesity Week 2014. Check out her lessons learned about smarter counseling.

Have you heard of Motivational Interviewing or M.I? It's not a new concept but it's still not the most commonly used type of counseling used by dietitians here in the US.

Ken Resnicow Ph.D from Michigan State, had his audience entranced when he talked about how the 'MI' style of counseling means counselors provide (information, facts, support) but the client decides (what to do and when).

Research shows us 'musterbating' and 'shoulding' all over our clients only pushes them away. Effective, lasting change comes when the client feels empowered by their healtlhcare providers, not demeaned.

Our job is to shine a light on where change is likely and probable based on what we're hearing from our clients.

Run don't walk from your provider if you feel like you're not being heard, respected or leading the charge in your health.

@ Love love love this!!!!

Edited November 6, 201411 yr by lisacaron

My nutritionist had this down pat, halfway through our first session I found I was making the suggestions and she was just helping me with the how's. It is very empowering and very satisfying. I went in to the meeting expecting to meet some skinnier than a rail, vegan who would look down on me and tell me I have to eat kale because I was a bad person, I ended up leaving having realized that I can do this, and not even thinking about how I had come to that realization.

Quite a nice change to nutritionists I've had years before.