Highlighting Change and Sustain Talk

Being able to identify the differences between change talk and sustain talk is an important part of working with your client. Change talk is client speech that favors movement in the direction of change while sustain talk is any speech that promotes the status quo.

The presence of sustain talk indicates that as clinicians that we need to work carefully with our client and be on our best motivational behaviour. Using OARS skills can help an individual move from sustain talk towards change talk.

In this section, you will revisit Bob’s statements from his previous interviews and have the opportunity to identify examples of change talk and sustain talk.