The primary purpose of this initiative is to provide training and technical assistance to Behavioral Health Provider Organizations in West Virginia in fully integrating Motivation Interviewing into administration, supervision, and the provision of programs and services. The goals of this capacity-building project are:
The timely, appropriate and effective engagement of individuals and families in the public behavioral health continuum: prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery services, and supports.
Increased retention in programs and services indicated by decrease no-show rates and discontinuation rates.
Increase in staff competencies in Evidenced-Based Practice of MI, operating in a supportive organizational environment that includes clinical supervision and skill-building.
Increase in staff recruitment and retention as indicated by decreased turnover, vacancy rates, and increased job satisfaction.
Increase in the number of MINT trainers in West Virginia, thereby increasing the MI training capacity of the state.
Motivational Interviewing is a clinical approach that helps people with mental health and substance use disorders and other chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and asthma make positive behavioral changes to support better health. The approach upholds four principles— expressing empathy and avoiding arguing, developing discrepancy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy (client’s belief s/he can successfully make a change). Equipping the BH workforce and BH provider organizations with an EBP adaptable and responsive to the changing trends in use and treatment needs is good for those in care as well as those the individual and organizations providing care.
Christine Higgins, M.A., is an expert trainer in Motivational Interviewing, a counseling technique that helps people understand how to make a change and how to increase motivation to create that change. Often people want to make a change or know they should make a change, but they are not sure what’s holding them back or getting in the way of moving forward. Motivational Interviewing is a highly effective, non-judgmental technique that allows individuals to see what might be creating a barrier to change and to engage them in a change plan discussion that is energizing. Ms. Higgins attended MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers), a national training organization, in 2005, and she has been training professionals in this technique ever since.
Sky Kershner, LPC, LCSW, ALPS, is the Executive Director of the KPCC Counseling in Charleston, WV, and is an Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at WVU School of Medicine, Dept of Behavioral Medicine. Sky has a Doctor of Ministry degree as well as a Masters in Clinical Social Work. Sky is a Member of MINT, the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers. Sky has received several awards for his professional work, including the WV Civil Rights Award and WV Counselor of the Year. Sky was a contributing author for the book “ACT Therapy for Pastoral Counselors,” edited by Steven Hayes, and his biggest “15 minutes of fame” moment is that he once appeared as a guest therapist on the Discovery Studios show “Hoarders.” Sky lives in Charleston with his wife, two teens, a dog, and five chickens.
This is an invite-only event.
