Conversations about Change: Introduction to Motivational Interviewing

Beginning January 26th: UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education is offering “Conversations about Change: Introduction to Motivational Interviewing”:

“This online training will provide you with the most-up-do-date information about Motivational Interviewing and how you can help clients make positive and lasting changes in their lives.

Create positive lasting change for your clients 

How can Motivational Interviewing help you help patients with “hard to change” attitudes and behaviors? Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a well-established evidence-based approach to promoting positive behavior change. Shown to be effective across a variety of problem behaviors and populations, MI has become a highly popular and sought-after approach by professionals working in diverse practice settings such as behavioral health, medicine, corrections, and schools. Why would I want to learn Motivational Interviewing? Not only is MI the most effective way for you to assist patients to change, it can also reduce frustration and stress.

While you learn to maximize your skills in helping people to change their behaviors, you will also learn to minimize situations that get you into power struggles with your patients. This virtual training will introduce concepts and foundational skills involved in using MI. Participants will experience the course content through short lecture, video, and real-play. You will leave with a clearer sense of what MI will do for you and your clients.

Learning Objectives:

•  Learn the definition of MI and explore and discuss the benefits of learning MI
• Become acquainted with relevant evidence of MI effectiveness in your practice settings
• Explain the 4 processes in Motivational Interviewing
• Define ambivalence through recognizing “Change Talk” and “Sustain Talk”
• Practice ways to effectively elicit “Change Talk”
• Recognize and describe the “MI Spirit”
• Observe and practice key listening skills, including reflections and giving advice/information
• Recognize when to use the skills of affirmations, open-ended questions, and summaries
• Learn ways to continue integration and personalization of MI into your work“