using motivational interviewing techniques, it’s the patient
who should talk first. If your reaction is that you are concerned
about the patient’s health if s/he does not lose weight or stop
smoking, for example, then you give a direct indication that the
patient is doing something wrong. You could almost say that
you are blackmailing the patient or backing them into a corner
. . . you lose your neutrality in the conversation. I’ve learned that
this is not a good way to help the patient initiate changes in
lifestyle