Introduction to Motivational Interviewing: Foundational Skills

This interactive workshop will provide participants with a comprehensive introduction to the theory, style, principles, and skills of motivational interviewing and is recommended for all front line staff.

The objective of this training is to provide each participant with exposure to, and hands-on practice in the basic skills of Motivational Interviewing.

Participants will:

• Learn how ambivalence impacts behaviour change and how to navigate through ambivalence using MI
• Explore the balance between the technical and relational components of the evoking process
• Discover how the foundational MI skills apply to all of our conversations
• Learn the difference between sustain talk and discord and how to navigate through both
• Explore the Micro-skills (open questions, affirmations, reflections and summaries) and how they are purposefully used in MI
• Learn and explore the Four Processes of MI

Enabling practitioners to:

• Work more effectively with clients who have been labeled “difficult”, “resistant” or “stuck”
• Work more effectively with clients who have a myriad of overlapping change- related issues
• Lessen the impact of counsellor burnout
• More effectively and efficiently guide clients forward with their change goals