Motivational Interviewing (MI) is defined as “a particular way of talking with people about change and growth to strengthen their own motivation and commitment” (Miller & Rollnick, 2023, p. 3). MI is designed to evoke and enhance the individual’s own motivation to change, using strategies that are empathetic and non-confrontational. While it has long been recognized as an effective way to promote behavior change within individuals in substance use treatment, MI has a wide range of applications beyond the clinician-client interaction. MI’s guiding helping style draws out the individual’s own strengths and desires to help them make the behavioral changes needed to reach their goals. Participants will learn about the guiding spirit of MI and the four tasks, and will have the opportunity to practice core skills and appropriately respond to challenges in an experiential skill-development training.
Objectives:
- Describe key aspects of the spirit of motivational interviewing as well as the four tasks and the importance of effective engagement
- Describe common traps and communication barriers (e.g. the persuasion trap, the wandering trap) which can arise and contribute to potential discord
- Generate effective responses consistent with motivational interviewing to elicit change talk and to help clients explore and resolve ambivalence
- Demonstrate use of core motivational interviewing skills, as well as the ability to identify and appropriately respond to sustain talk and discord