Health & care · Roleplay
Motivational interviewing practice: talk with Dale, a DUI client
Motivational interviewing uses open questions, affirmations, reflections and summaries (often called OARS) to help a person say their own reasons for change instead of hearing yours. Reflect what you hear, including the part of them that doesn’t want to change, avoid lecturing or warning, and listen for change talk to build on. Practice with Dale Morris, 47, an ambivalent client in his first court-mandated session after a DUI.
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Updated October 2026
Who it's for
Who this practice is for
- Counseling, social work, and nursing students learning motivational interviewing.
- MI trainers who want students to try a full session with a client who resists.
- Addiction counselors who need continuing-education practice hours.
- Anyone practicing how to respond when a client says everyone drinks after work.
What happens
How a session goes
- Dale Morris speaks first. He's in a counseling office for his first court-mandated session after a DUI.
- He reacts to how you treat him, like a real person would. If you lecture, he argues. If you listen, he opens up.
- The session ends after you've had a real back-and-forth.
Real lines from a test session
What Dale Morris said in a test session
“Look, everybody has a few beers after work. Why am I the bad guy?”
“It was just a normal Tuesday. I had a couple beers at the sports bar watching the game, took the back roads home because I know the police sit on the main drag.”
“Court. Yeah. They see a number on a breathalyzer and that's the whole story. Look, I'm here, aren't I? That's what they wanted.”
From a test session of this practice in the app, lightly trimmed. Your session goes its own way: the character reacts to what you say.
The scorecard
What the scorecard looked like for Dale Morris
“It sounds like you felt in control, but the court saw it differently.”
The word 'but' can sound like a correction, and referencing the court's view risks activating the righting reflex by siding with external authority.
Try instead: “You felt in control driving home that night—what does it mean for you that your choice led to a DUI charge?”
What went well: Opening with a complex reflection ('feel singled out') and an open question invited Dale to share his perspective without arguing.
Real scorecard output from one of our test runs. In test runs the practice answers are written by a test script, not by a customer.
What good looks like
What a strong answer does here
- You use complex reflections that show you heard what Dale meant, not just his words.
- You ask open questions that help Dale say his own reasons to change.
- You affirm Dale when he shows any willingness, without pushing him.
- You roll with resistance instead of arguing, and you close with a summary of what Dale said.
Scored on:
- Reflective listening
- Open questions
- Evoking change
- Collaboration & safety
Common mistakes
Weak lines, and what to say instead
Weak: “You need to admit you have a drinking problem.”
Better: “You're here because a judge sent you. What do you think about how drinking fits into your life?”
Labels like 'alcoholic' and arguing make Dale defend himself instead of talking.
Weak: “Drinking every day after work is dangerous. You should stop.”
Better: “You said you have a few beers after work. What does that do for you?”
Advice-giving and the righting reflex push Dale away from change talk.
Weak: “So you think the court is unfair?”
Better: “The court sees a number on a breathalyzer. You see a normal Tuesday. What's that like for you?”
A complex reflection shows you understand both sides and keeps Dale talking.
Weak: “Don't you care about your family?”
Better: “What matters most to you right now, even with all this going on?”
Guilt-tripping isn't motivational interviewing. Open questions help Dale find his own reasons.
Motivational Interviewing Client: start talking in a few seconds. Your own side stays yours to fill in.
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Your roleplay practice plan
- Define your objective for the conversation
- Respond to the character’s actual words
- Apply the scenario’s specific criteria
Start with a free worksheet, then test your own response with a voice or text roleplay. Your first complete coaching report is free once across all areas. Create a free account to save your goal, actual words, and downloadable notes.
Need repeated practice? $4.99 once buys 100 rounds across every mode and full coaching on every report. Rounds never expire; no subscription is required.
FAQ
Questions about Dale Morris
Who is Dale Morris?
Dale is a 47-year-old man who was mandated to counseling after a DUI. He's ambivalent: he doesn't think he has a problem, but he's here because a judge said so. He reacts like a real person when you talk with him. Try it free →
Is this real therapy or supervision?
No. This is training practice, not clinical supervision or treatment. It's for counseling, social work, and nursing students, MI trainers, and addiction counselors who want to practice motivational interviewing with a client who pushes back. Try it free →
What is change talk in motivational interviewing?
Anything the client says in favor of change: a desire (“I wish I didn’t drink so much”), an ability, a reason, a need, or a commitment. In MI you listen for it, reflect it back and ask about it, so the client hears their own case for change grow stronger. Try it free →
What does OARS stand for?
Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections and Summaries, the core skills of motivational interviewing. Open questions invite the story, affirmations note real strengths, reflections show you understood, and summaries pull the client’s own reasons together, especially their change talk. Try it free →
Training practice, not clinical supervision or treatment.
Try Motivational Interviewing Client free
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