“Partnering” measures the extent to which the practitioner fosters a collaborative process with the client as two equal partners who are working together towards the client’s goals. The client is the acknowledged decision-maker regarding their life and is supported in the lead role. The MI practitioner is the key consultant who provides relevant knowledge, expertise, insights and observations at the right time and in the right dose that support and advance the client outcomes. At the lower end of rating, the practitioner never or rarely removes their “expert hat,” and they come across as not trusting the client to make good decisions. At the higher end, we hear what sounds like an effortless working together for the client’s own goals.