Motivational Interviewing

Overview

Motivational Interviewing has its origins in the alcohol field in the 1980’s and is one of the best validated and widely used of all psychosocial interventions for alcohol use problems (Miller & Rose, 2009). Dr William Miller observed practice where people accessing treatment and support were often subject to authoritarian and confrontational approaches which resulted in people feeling let down by treatment. Consequently, he developed MI alongside Stephen Rollnick. MI uses a conversational approach which works with people’s motivations to grow and change. The MI practitioner on this 2-day Motivational Interviewing Training course is trained to use a guiding style to empower the service user to consider both their internal motivations for change and grow as well as the impact of external factors (family, friends, society and media). The service user benefits from this approach through being placed in control of their decision making as the expert of their situation. There is a strong focus on the practitioner and service user working in partnership in moving towards change and growth.

Who is Motivational Interviewing aimed at?

Drug and Alcohol Workers, Social Workers, Multi-agency Team Workers (Early Help), Residential Social Care Workers, Hospital staff and homeless hostel workers

Course Length

2 days

Learning Outcomes

You will benefit from a practical introduction to the theory and practice of MI which you will then be able to put into practice in your professions. The focus is on:

• Identify the research that underpins the value of Motivational Interviewing
• Explore how Motivational Interviewing helps with growth and change in service users
• Demonstrate the spirit, tasks and core skills of Motivational Interviewing
• Identify the relationship between Motivational Interviewing and the Transtheoretical Model of Change
• Explore Ambivalence and Discord and their impact on change and growth

What will I learn?

By the end of the training course, you will be able to: 

• Use your new knowledge, skills and confidence to enable service users to talk about and implement change and growth.
• Use a toolbox of strategies and techniques based on Motivational Interviewing to help work with service users.
• Help service increase their confidence and self-esteem to change their relationship with their change and/or growth goals.