Response-Based Practice
Response-Based ideas arose from interactions with people who had endured violence. In the course of their work Wade, Coates, and Todd noted that victims invariably resist violence and other forms of oppression, but depending on the circumstances they may resist overtly or covertly.
They found that engaging clients in conversations that elucidated and honoured their resistance were helpful in addressing a wide variety of concerns. However, seeing acts of resistance as responses to violence and not effects of impacts of violence required a significant shift in theory and practice.
They discovered that focussing on victims’ responses allowed them to better identify and construct accounts of their resistance. Accounts of resistance provide a basis in fact for contesting accounts of pathology and passivity towards the restoration of dignity, justice and equality.
(From the Centre of Response-Based Practice)
I believe that the use of response-based ideas could also help to fundamentally alter the way we look at and respond to each other in other areas where humans interact. Often I interact with clients directly by inviting them to consider a response-based perspective as an alternative to a deficiency soaked explanation, to see what we can learn from using another set of underlying assumptions about human nature.
Cathy Richardson and Allan Wade have developed a process called "Islands of Safety" in response to violence in Aboriginal families
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing was developed as an alternative way to treat addictions and has had success in helping people overcome addictive behaviour. Motivational Interviewing (MI) has also been used for a variety of mental health issues in the last fifteen years and has proven to deliver results. Motivational Interviewing uses the Willingness, Belief in Ability, and Readiness as a guide on what to focus on in interactions with clients.
I use the willingness, ability, and readiness criteria to improve my understanding of an individual's orientation to change.