• Learn by doing! Practice MI skills and add them to your clinical toolbox
• Improve treatment outcomes by inspiring client’s own motivation to change
• Combine MI with other treatment modalities
• Apply MI skills in any situation requiring change!

Participate in this intensive conference and get the latest Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques by MI founders Drs. Bill Miller and Stephen Rollnick. Join experienced MI trainer, William Matulich, Ph.D., member of the International Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and learn how to integrate MI skills into your practice.

MI is proven to be effective for common clinical problems such as addiction, anxiety, depression, dual diagnosis (substance abuse), externalizing problems in adults, disruptive behavior disorders in youth, unhealthy lifestyle choices and other self-defeating behaviors.

MI provides a structure that gives responsibility back to the client for change, relieving you of that assumed “burden.” Once your clients make a commitment for change, you will be more successful in providing support and improving treatment outcomes.

During this conference, you will learn the critical skills and processes that make MI more accessible and useful in your everyday clinical practice.

Dr. Matulich will use demonstrations, case examples, role-plays and more to teach you the essential MI skills that your clinical practice is missing to help your clients change.

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1. Summarize the history of Motivational Interviewing (MI).
2. Describe the evidence base for the use of MI for behavioral change.
3. Explain the “Spirit” of MI.
4. Discuss what motivates people to change.
5. Identify and practice how to assess client motivation.
6. Practice specific techniques to increase client motivation.
7. Describe the 6 stages of change.
8. Utilize the 4 core skills of MI in conversation.
9. Employ several techniques to generate “change talk” and soften “sustain talk”.
10. Utilize strategies to explore and resolve ambivalence to change.
11. Demonstrate the ability to recognize and reinforce “change talk.”
12. Employ several techniques to reduce the likelihood of client resistance and discord.
13. Describe how MI can be integrated into current forms of treatment.

MI Defined

• A conversation about change
• Person-centered approach
• Goal-oriented approach
• Honors client autonomy
• Research behind effectiveness of MI

The “Transtheoretical” Model of Change

• Six stages of change
• Assessing client stage of change

Theories of Motivation

• Needs theory
• Self-determination theory
• Reactance and Self-perception theory
• Myths
• Extrinsic vs. intrinsic motivation

Put it into Practice: Avoid Directing

• Being the expert
• Direct the client

The “Righting Reflex”

• Counterproductive for MI
• A natural counselor response/reflex

Put it into Practice: A Taste of MI

• Seven questions to generate motivation

The Spirit of MI – PACE

• Partnership
• Acceptance
• Compassion
• Evocation

Importance of Empathy

• Required for engagement

The Four Processes of MI

• Engage
• Focus
• Evoke
• Plan

Using OARS – Critical Skill Building

• Open questions
• Affirmations
• Reflections
• Summarizations
• Put it into practice: Forming reflections/ feedback and reflective listening

Complex Reflections

• Double-sided reflections
• Reflecting Feeling
• Using metaphor
• Put it into practice: Complex reflections

Open Questions

• Cannot be answered with “yes” or “no”
• Opens the conversation
• Empowers the client
• Put it into practice: Change closed to open questions

Affirmations

• Reflect something positive
• Builds a sense of self-efficacy

Summaries

• Long reflections of client statements
• Strategic use of summaries

Demonstration of MI Skills

• Code example using OARS observer sheet
• Discussion/Questions

Change Talk

• Client speech that favors motivation
• Types of Change Talk: Desire, ability, reason, need, commitment, activation, taking steps (DARN-CAT)
• Put it into practice: Recognizing and responding to change talk

Practical Strategies-Creating Movement

• Open questions that generate change talk
• Readiness rulers and follow-up questions
• When to use the Decisional Balance
• Exploring values and goals

Resistance vs. Discord

• Social interaction theory of resistance
• Ways to handle discord or “resistant” clients

Giving Information and/or Advice

• With permission
• Elicit-Provide-Elicit
• Menu of options
• Put it into practice: Agenda setting and prioritizing

Consolidate Commitment

• Recapitulation summary
• Key question
• SMART goal setting

Incorporate with Other Treatment Methods

• CBT and more

Put all the MI Skills Together

• Demonstration
• Participant coding
• Strategic planning
• Skills practice with observer feedback