In training and lectures on treatment outcomes I often suggest that doing the wrong thing in sessions with clients has a bigger impact on doing the right things. I was therefore interested in Findings recent reviews of brief interventions research that provided some excellent summaries of these studies. To read the research review click here and here. Whilst Findings is looking at problem drinkers, these findings probably extrapolate over all clients. Interestingly, in the examination of what matters in motivational interventions for clients was not reflective listening in itself, but the reflection of deeper emotions (click here). Again this is supportive of the idea that change is an emotional process not a rational one. As I have discussed with many in training sessions, change does not occur at a cognitive level, but at an emotional one. To review this idea click here.