Motivational Interviewing: Helping Clients Change Unwanted Behaviors (3HR)

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, goal-oriented style of communication with particular attention to the language of change. It is designed to strengthen personal motivation for and commitment to a specific goal by eliciting and exploring the person’s own reasons for change within an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion. In this training, participants will learn the basics of implementing Motivational Interviewing – Engaging Clients in Behavior Change. We will learn about the four elements of Motivational Interviewing “spirit”: Acceptance, Collaboration, Evocation, and Compassion as well as the “four processes” of MI. Participants will learn about the role of open questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries in MI and will view a demonstration. “Change talk” and “sustain talk” and will have the opportunity to practice these important skills through case study examples. The “elicit-provide-elicit” model for information exchange will be demonstrated and ways to include this exchange in the treatment of substance use disorders will be discussed.

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

• Explain the four elements of Motivational Interviewing (MI) “spirit”
• Define Miller and Rollnick’s “four processes” of MI
• Demonstrate “OARS” skills
• Identify the Core Concepts of “change talk”, “sustain talk”, “rolling with resistance”
• Implement the skills learned through case study practice

This course qualifies for 3 CE hours of General Skill Building and Evidence-Based training.