How to Train for Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing is a counseling therapy for people engaged in self-destructive and detrimental behavior. The primary goal of motivational interview therapy is to assist clients recognize the consequences of their behavior and encourage them to initiate changes in their behavior. Motivational interview trainers are hired to teach basic and advanced therapeutic techniques to professional who work with at-risk clients and populations. Motivation interview therapy is a valuable tool for people in social work, counseling, child welfare and criminal justice.

Instructions

• 1

  Organize a two- to four-day motivation interviewing conference and workshop for your business or social service organization. Professionals typically receive training in the philosophy and techniques of motivational interviewing at workshops. Workshops hire professional trainers to provide lectures, workshops and general information about motivational interviewers.

• 2

  Determine which areas need to be addressed. Motivation interview techniques are specialized to handle various areas such as juvenile delinquent behavior problems and substance abuse. Make a list of the specific problems that need to be addressed and dealt with.

• 3

  Contact the motivational interview network of trainers at Motivationalinterview.org. Make arrangements to hire trainers to teach the workshops.

• 4

  Open the workshop with the four basic principles of motivational interviewing. (1) Empathy, the therapist is able to empathize and see things from the client's perspective. MI therapy adopts a nonjudgmental and non-confrontational position. (2) Discretion. MI therapy allows the client evaluate and weigh choices with more discretion. (3) Resistance. MI therapy recognizes that resistance to change is natural rather than pathological. (4) Support self-constructive behavior.

• 5

  Arrange the conference and workshop schedule to address each of the issues and items in working with your client population.