Training Description:

Motivational interviewing, a treatment approach developed by William Miller, has been well established as an effective way to promote behavior change in individuals. Following a brief review of the fundamental MI principles and micro-skills, this experiential MI Skill Development training will focus on helping clients to engage in change talk, and then make commitments to make behavioral changes based on goals that they have identified. Ample time will be devoted to role play practice to enable participants to gain skills necessary to elicit change talk from clients with low levels of readiness for change, thereby increasing levels of motivation and moving them toward action to address their substance use issues. 

At the conclusion of the training, participants will be able to: 

1.    Identify at least three (3) components of the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing.
2.    Distinguish at least two (2) ways that Motivational Interviewing is different from traditional medical approaches to counseling clients with substance use problems

3.    Propose at least two (2) principles of Motivational Interviewing.
4.    Explain at least two (2) reasons why active listening is important before problem-solving solutions for the client.
5.    Analyze at least three (3) of the MI micro-skills and explain how they can enhance a conversation about behavior change.