Fueling the Fire of Change

Decision-Making

The Face Ambivalence Shows

Allan Zuckoff Ph.D. on May 13, 2025

Ambivalence can torment. It can also motivate and enable. What determines the face it shows us?

Ambivalence can torment. It can also motivate and enable. What determines the face it shows us?

Decision-Making

What Good Is Ambivalence?

Allan Zuckoff Ph.D. on April 24, 2025

We tend to overlook the positive face of ambivalence. Recognizing it can motivate us to learn how to make ambivalence work for us.

We tend to overlook the positive face of ambivalence. Recognizing it can motivate us to learn how to make ambivalence work for us.

Decision-Making

Why Are We Ambivalent?

Allan Zuckoff Ph.D. on March 21, 2025

To be human is to experience ambivalence. Understanding why can help us embrace our nature and receive its gifts.

To be human is to experience ambivalence. Understanding why can help us embrace our nature and receive its gifts.

Decision-Making

What Does It Mean to Resolve Ambivalence?

Allan Zuckoff Ph.D. on February 18, 2025

We don't need our ambivalence to dissolve to commit to change. The secret lies in being half-sure and whole-hearted.

We don't need our ambivalence to dissolve to commit to change. The secret lies in being half-sure and whole-hearted.

Decision-Making

The Many Faces of Ambivalence

Allan Zuckoff Ph.D. on January 23, 2025

Ambivalence can be our nemesis, and motivational interviewing can help us understand and overcome its negative effects. But there's more to ambivalence than just its dark side.

Ambivalence can be our nemesis, and motivational interviewing can help us understand and overcome its negative effects. But there's more to ambivalence than just its dark side.

Health

Since When Do Doctors Ask for Permission?

Allan Zuckoff Ph.D. on November 20, 2017

"Shouldn’t doctors have free rein not only to raise whatever topic they wish, but also to suggest it needs “fixing”?" a doctor asks. The answer is not what he expects.

"Shouldn’t doctors have free rein not only to raise whatever topic they wish, but also to suggest it needs “fixing”?" a doctor asks. The answer is not what he expects.

It's not because they're lazy, foolish, or "unmotivated."

Why aren't people motivated to make changes that would improve their lives? Why would they mislead the very people they’re seeking help from? Motivational interviewing can help us understand—and point the way toward more constructive conversations about change.