What is it?
The Readiness Ruler is a helpful, free tool to help support clinicians doing Motivational Interviewing (MI). The Readiness Ruler has two sides with one question on each side with a 0 to 10 scale. The questions help patients evaluate the importance of the change they desire and their confidence about making those changes. After they give their answers, you are encouraged to ask the following questions to elicit change talk:
- Why are you a ____ [insert # reported] and not a zero?
- What would it take for you to get from ____ [insert # reported] to ____ [the next higher number]?
Our Thoughts
This is a very useful tool that is easy to have with you in your clinical practice. Having this visual, tangible prompt for encouraging change talk is a way to begin incorporating Motivational Interviewing strategies into health coaching work with patients.
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