What is Motivational Interviewing?

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a client-centered approach to communication defined as “a particular way of talking with people about change and growth to strengthen their motivation and commitment.” MI helps people increase their intrinsic motivation to make life changes that improve well-being and align with their values and goals.

MI employs a core set of skills and strategies within an overarching framework or "spirit," where the practitioner demonstrates the” heart-set” of respect, empowerment, compassion for, and partnership with the people or communities they serve.

Why Motivational Interviewing?

Providers that implement MI as their primary practice model have:

  • Better listening and communication skills

  • Increased capacity for empathy and compassion

  • Higher levels of positive engagement with persons served, and improved client outcomes

  • Reduced stress and burnout and increased job satisfaction

  • Better professional and organizational outcomes

  • Greater ability to practice cultural humility and work across differences

What I offer

Each organization and team has different needs. We will work together to design the best training for your organization. A sampling of my offerings include:

Motivational Interviewing Basic (MIB) This highly experiential training introduces learners to Motivational interviewing and focuses on the spirit, techniques, and critical principles of holding a Motivational Interviewing conversation. The goal of this training is for attendees to feel sufficiently familiar with MI and begin utilizing it in their daily interactions with clients. This training is generally 12 to 18 hours long.

Motivational Interviewing Advancing the Practice (MIA) This training is for learners who have completed the MIB and want to deepen their skills and understanding of MI. It is highly experiential training in which learners develop more advanced MI skills. The goal of this training is for attendees to increase their understanding of MI and to increase confidence in their ability to employ MI effectively in their work. This training is generally 6 to 12 hours long.

Executive Coaching This ongoing training/consultation is for leaders who have completed the MIB and MIA training and are in a role that involves staff supervision. This training will deal with ways in which the spirit, techniques, and concepts of MI may benefit the leaders of an organization in their efforts to support and motivate the staff they supervise in carrying out their job responsibilities.

Recurring MI Practice Groups These groups are aimed at staff who have completed at least the MIB training. Groups meet on a schedule and focus on learners having the opportunity to address questions regarding the use of MI and to practice and receive feedback.

*Please note that I do not offer CEUs, though I partner with organizations and programs that do.*

Why Me

I am a skilled facilitator who can create strong group dynamics and evoke from learners their wisdom and desire for growth and change. My trainings are dynamic, engaging, and fun, and I consistently get high participant reviews.

I have taught Motivational Interviewing in a wide variety of settings, including:

  • Continuing education programs

  • Social work programs

  • Towns adopting alternative to policing programs

  • Community mental health agencies

  • Non-profits

  • Veterans programs

  • AIDS research and evaluation programs

  • Libraries

  • Food pantries

  • Homeless shelters

I have trained hundreds of people, including:

  • Social service providers

  • Mental health providers

  • Healthcare professionals

  • First Responders

  • Alcohol and drug counselors

  • Library staff

  • Food pantry staff

  • Homeless shelter staff

  • Educators

  • Students