Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a conversation style to help people constructively talk about reducing health risks and changing behavior. MI is designed to enhance the patient’s own motivation to change using strategies that are empathic and non-confrontational. Motivational Interviewing, a treatment approach developed by William Miller, has been well established as an effective way to promote behavior change in individuals. MI’s guiding helping style draws out the patient’s own strengths and desires to help them make changes to improve their health. Participants will learn about the fundamental MI Spirit, Principles and micro-skills in an experiential skill-development training. Ample time will be devoted to real play and group practice sessions to enable training participants to gain the skills necessary to engage their clients/patients and work to enhance their motivation for change.

At the conclusion of the training session, participants should be able to: 1. Describe at least two components of the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing and why each is important to the effective application of Motivational Interviewing. 2. Compare the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing to traditional medical approaches to counseling clients/patients with substance use problems. 3. Define at least three (3) key principles of Motivational Interviewing that can be utilized in conversations with clients and patients. 4. Describe the importance of active listening before prematurely problem-solving solutions for the client/patient. 5. Describe and demonstrate, through real plays and group discussions, the effective delivery of at least three MI micro-skills that be used to help clients/patients increase motivation for substance use related changes. 6. Explain how to apply Motivational Interviewing techniques in typical circumstances encountered in behavioral health treatment settings.