The Spirit of MI: A Way of Being

In this episode of Empowered Through Compassion, I sit down with Sarah Cameron to explore the heart of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and how it comes alive not just as a technique, but as a way of being. Our conversation moves beyond skills and into something deeper, "the spirit", and how it parallels "Self-energy" in Internal Family Systems.

We talk about Sarah’s work at Amiga and her passion for helping clinicians embody the spirit of PACE in real-world conversations. This is a feeling of Partnership, Acceptance, Compassion and Empowerment, which is foundational for MI. We discuss how these words are not just "check boxes" we have to fill out and "do", but rather, that are qualities that we continue to access and live throughout our lives.

MI can be added to IFS-informed EMDR, not as a competing model, but as a complementary path that adds more dimensions of what can be possible through therapy. I share my own journey with MI, and how it provided me with a language which opened up space for me to really listen and reflect change as it was happening in the therapy space. Sarah and I connected around what it means to build bridges across models, and disrupt feelings of being in a community without integration might feel siloed.

This conversation is about presence, about hope, and about what becomes possible when we begin to embody the spirit of the work we are doing.

Themes of episode

• The spirit of Motivational Interviewing as reflected in P.A.C.E.
• MI as a way of being, not just a set of techniques
• Parallels between MI spirit and Self energy in IFS
• “Lending hope” becoming a “hope merchant” two ways of communicating something extremely valuable
• Integration of MI, IFS, and EMDR in clinical practice
• Moving toward collaborative frameworks
• Suggesting there are some discussions and spaces where the focus on change talk might not fit.

About Sarah

Sarah Cameron is a Motivational Interviewing trainer and leader within the MINT community. She is deeply involved in advancing MI as a developmental and relational practice, helping clinicians move beyond technique into embodiment of MI spirit. Through her work with Amiga, she focuses on cultivating real-world application of MI in a way that is sustainable, human, and transformative.

Sarah's books

Sarah has contributed to several important works in the field of Motivational Interviewing:

• Becoming MI introduces the MI Metamorphosis Map and reframes MI as a developmental journey, offering guidance for trainers, supervisors, and clinicians to meet people where they are and support growth over time.
• The Aspirational Spirit of Motivational Interviewing explores how the true depth of MI lies not just in mastering techniques, but in embodying its spirit as an ongoing, evolving process.
• Ask-Offer-Ask: Bringing Motivational Interviewing to Life in Child Welfare offers a practical framework for navigating difficult conversations, especially in high-pressure environments, using a simple and effective MI-informed structure.

Resources

• Amiga: https://amigallc.com/
• Sarah website: https://www.ignitingchangeco.com/

Empowered Through Compassion is a podcast exploring the integration of Internal Family Systems, EMDR, and Motivational Interviewing. Through these compassionate conversations, we aim to deepen our understanding of trauma and healing. We hope that information here can inspire connection and support to both clinicians and individuals.