Clinical Skills
OARS Examples You Can Actually Use in Sessions
Real OARS examples for motivational interviewing. Learn open questions, reflections, affirmations, and how to rewrite weak responses stronger.
OARS sounds great in class. But when you're in a session and your brain goes blank, it helps to have actual examples you can model. Here's what that looks like in real conversations.
Open Questions That Actually Get Answers
Open questions start conversations, not yes/no questions. They should sound natural though — not like you're reading from a textbook.
Weak
"Do you think therapy will help?"
Better
"What would be different if things got better?"
Weak
"Are you using drugs?"
Better
"Walk me through what a typical day looks like for you right now."
Weak
"Do you want to change?"
Better
"What's making you think about things differently now?"
Weak
"Does your family support you?"
Better
"Tell me about the people in your life. Who do you feel closest to?"
The pattern: how, what, tell me about, describe, walk me through. These force more than a one-word answer. And notice they're not accusatory. You're not assuming anything. You're just asking them to explain.
Affirmations That Don't Sound Fake
An affirmation is recognizing something real about this person. Not generic praise. Real strength.
Weak
"You're so strong."
Better
"You've been taking care of three kids on your own while working nights. That's real commitment, even on the hard days."
Weak
"Good job showing up."
Better
"It would've been easier to stay home today, but you came anyway. That says something about how serious you are."
Weak
"You're doing great."
Better
"You told me you wanted to stop but didn't think you could. The fact that you're even here, talking about it, means you haven't given up on yourself."
The key: connect their action to what it says about their values or character. Don't just praise the action. Say what it means about them.
Reflections: Simple vs. Complex
A reflection is you saying back what you heard, with intention. There are two levels.
Simple reflections just restate. Useful early in conversation or when you're not sure what else to say.
Client
"I want to quit smoking but every time I try, I gain weight and I hate how I look."
Simple reflection
So quitting smoking and your appearance are both really important to you, and they feel connected.
Complex reflections add what you're sensing underneath — the dilemma, the fear, the value they're expressing.
Client
"I want to quit smoking but every time I try, I gain weight and I hate how I look."
Complex reflection
So there's a real conflict here. You want to be healthier, but the path to that means dealing with something that makes you feel worse about yourself first. That's a hard position to be in.
Notice the complex one acknowledges the actual bind they're in. It's not judgmental. It's real.
Client
"My mom keeps texting me to call more. I love her but she's so exhausting."
Simple
Your mom matters to you, and at the same time her communication style is a lot.
Complex
So you genuinely care about your relationship with her, but right now you're needing more space than she wants to give. That's a conflict a lot of people have with their parents.
Rewriting Weak Responses as Stronger MI Responses
Here's what non-MI responses look like, then the MI reframe:
Client
"I know I should probably stop drinking but my friends all drink and I don't know what else to do on weekends."
Weak
You should find new friends then.
Simple reflection
So drinking feels connected to your friendships and how you spend time together.
Complex reflection + open question
It sounds like your social life and your drinking are pretty tangled up together. What would it look like if you could have fun with your friends and not be drinking?
Client
"I don't think therapy works. I tried it once in college and it was pointless."
Weak
Well, therapy definitely works. You just weren't ready before.
Simple reflection
That experience left you pretty skeptical about whether therapy can help.
Complex reflection + open question
So you gave it a shot and it didn't feel useful. That's frustrating, especially if you went in hoping it would help. What was missing about that experience?
Client
"I'm so tired of my job. Everyone's incompetent and I hate going in."
Weak
Well, nobody likes their job. You just have to deal with it.
Simple reflection
Your job is really draining right now.
Complex reflection + open question
It sounds like you're exhausted, and part of that is feeling like you're working around people who aren't putting in effort. When's the last time you felt okay about going to work?
Summaries That Show You Actually Listened
A summary pulls together the key things they've shared. Do this when there's a natural pause — not constantly.
Bad summary: "So you've had depression since 2019, you're on medication, and you have three kids." (Just facts. No insight.)
Good summary: "So it sounds like you've been managing depression for a few years now, and finding the right medication has helped. Right now the thing that's hardest is balancing your own mental health with being the parent your kids need. And you mentioned that when you're sleeping okay, everything feels more manageable. Is that right?"
Notice the good one:
- Acknowledges struggle and strength
- Connects the pieces (shows you heard the pattern)
- Calls back their own words ("is that right?" invites them to correct you)
- Sounds like a human, not an intake form
Common Mistakes with OARS
Using reflections that sound like judgment. "So you're making excuses" is not an MI reflection. "You're worried that trying again means risking failure, and you're not sure you can handle that right now" is.
Asking follow-up questions too fast. Ask one, wait, let them answer. Don't give them three questions at once.
Mixing affirmations and agreement. Don't say "That's so smart" or "I totally agree." That's you. They need to hear what they notice about themselves.
Summarizing before they're done talking. Summaries are for breaks, not interruptions.
Related: Motivational Interviewing for Social Work Students · First Practicum Session Checklist
Keep reading
Motivational Interviewing for Social Work Students: What MI Is and How to Start
Learn what motivational interviewing is, the four MI processes, and practical OARS examples. Perfect for first-year social work students.
Student LifeFirst Practicum Session Checklist for Social Work Students: What to Bring and Do
Practical checklist for your first practicum session: what to bring, ask, observe, and document. Includes downloadable one-page checklist.
Educational use only. This article is general educational material for MSW students, new clinicians, and supervisors. It is not clinical, medical, or legal advice, and reading it does not create a professional relationship. Always defer to your supervisor, program, licensing board, and clinical judgment.