How can we help our clients make positive changes in their behavior -- without nagging, shaming, persuading, or arguing? Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based counseling approach that can help individuals change behaviors they might feel ambivalent about, such as quitting or reducing alcohol/drugs, adopting safer sex practices, taking important medications, engaging in behavioral activation, exercising, or starting psychotherapy. In this 3-hour advanced training, participants will build upon their existing MI skills through interactive and experiential learning activities. In particular, we will focus on: (a) learning to assess whether someone is using MI, and how skillfully they are doing so, through the use of behavioral coding procedures (adapted from the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity [MITI] scale); (b) intensive practice that involves giving and receiving quantitative and qualitative feedback. This workshop will include minimal lecture or instruction about MI, as the workshop assumes participants already have a high level of existing knowledge of MI. Instead, we will prioritize using the time to practice using MI skills, assess/code MI skills, and provide feedback on MI skills. These skills should prove particularly relevant for individuals who are in supervisory or mentoring roles in which they are responsible for assessing and coaching other providers in developing MI skills.
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