Motivational interviewing is a method that promotes positive behavior change. It is an evidence-based treatment method that has been evaluated in more than a thousand controlled clinical trials.

Motivational interviewing is based on the principles of therapeutic communication and instead of providing advice, or even just a listening ear, the interviewer acts as a coach for the peer. Motivational interviewing is a collaborative process that edifies and makes the peer responsible for personal choices. It is not exclusively a stand-alone therapy. It can be incorporated into treatments and routine care for peers with various health issues, including those with physical health problems, mental health issues, or substance use and addiction disorders. Motivational interviewing has also successfully been used along with other forms of therapy to improve the connection between the peers and to alter the process at which the peer makes life changes.

In this training participants will learn how to engage with their peers in a practical way to help them find and build their own motivation for change. Each day includes carefully crafted video lessons and demonstrations that show participants not just what to do but how to do it, plus animations and interactive quizzes designed to both entertain you and reinforce key learning points.

• Welcome
• Brave Space
• Motivational Interviewing Defined
• Techniques
• Videos of Real Plays

GOALS:

• Learn an effective alternative to trying to persuade peers to change
• Help your peers find their own motivations for positive change
• Tune your ear to hear aspects of client/peer speech that tell you as the session is happening whether you are moving in the right (or wrong) direction
• Incorporate the underlying person-centered spirit of MI in your everyday work with peers
• Discover how to use questions, reflections, and summaries selectively to facilitate change
• Observe how reflective listening can help you when emotions run high, as when a peer is upset or angry
• Understand what to do differently when you choose to remain neutral about a peer decision
• Learn how to respond when the problem seems to be low confidence
• Relieve frustrations that you may feel about trying to make people change