As an MI enthusiast, I am always seeking opportunities to practice OARS skills. As a supervisor of 8 clinicians, the primary way that I interact with individuals one-on-one is during supervision, so it naturally fits that I have taken advantage of this time to practice the use of OARS. At first this practice was clumsy and awkward, and after about 6 months of practicing this 8 times weekly, it continues to be challenging yet rewarding.  I find that when I am able to use OARS with staff, it helps them to develop their inner locus of control, builds their perceived self efficacy and helps to strengthen the relationship between supervisor and supervisee. I have found that using OARS with staff is the most efficient way of communicating information and the use of these skills yields better results from the supervision conversation.

I had the opportunity to attend a lecture by Dr. Miller in September of 2014 at Washington University in St. Louis that focused on the recent trends in opiate abuse. Speakers present at this lecture discussed the demographic shifts in opiate abuse, the underlying economic drivers that contributed to the issue, and the need for an increased focus on this crisis among medical professionals. Dr. Miller was the final presenter and he focused solely on one concept: Empathy.