Motivational Interviewing

What is Motivational Interviewing?

Healthcare professionals often face the challenge of supporting patients in making changes to improve their health and well-being, such as quitting smoking or adopting healthier eating habits. When advice is ignored, many practitioners may push harder, but this can increase resistance. Motivational Interviewing (MI) offers a better way. It’s a collaborative communication method that helps patients explore their own reasons for change, reducing resistance and building motivation from within.

CCMI’s Unique Approach to MI Training

At CCMI, we offer a variety of training: foundational courses like Motivational Interviewing Online or Motivational Interviewing Workshops and Webinars. A selection of advanced Motivational Interviewing Courses are also available. As a trusted partner of BC Ministry of Health and a part of Patients as Partnerts initiative, CCMI has provided thousands of clinicians in BC with Motivational Interviewing training.

According to Motivational Interviewing 4th Edition when observed practice and/or expert coaching were included in training, it substantially improved the learning and maintenance of skills. Moreover, both practice and coaching are needed to make a change in how clients respond.

All of our foundational MI courses include 1-on-1 practice and feedback calls with our trainers. This personalized approach helps participants refine their Motivational Interviewing skills through real-life practice, making the learning process more practical and effective.

Motivational Interviewing Foundations Online Learning Pathway

 17.5-19.5 hours self-paced online content, including 3 x 30-minute practice and feedback sessions. Options for a 60 or 90 day completion timeline.

 Appropriate for a wide range of professionals and peer helpers.

This learning pathway contains 3 online courses, focused on building an understanding of the spirit of MI and developing core skills, including using OARS (open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries), responding to the way people talk about change, helping people to make Brief Action Plans, and understanding ‘resistance.’

Motivational Interviewing Foundations Workshop or Webinar

  Webinar option: 17.5 hours training, spread out over 5 weeks, followed by 2 x 30-minute practice and feedback sessions.
  Workshop option: 2 days (16 hrs) training, followed by 2 x 30-minute practice and feedback sessions.

  Appropriate for a wide range of professionals and peer helpers.

This training focuses on building an understanding of the spirit of MI and developing core skills, including using OARS (open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries), responding to the way people talk about change, helping people to make Brief Action Plans, and understanding ‘resistance.’

Motivational Interviewing Beyond Foundations: Mini Online Courses

  Each course contains approximately 30 to 90 minutes self-paced online content, followed by a 30-minute practice and feedback session. Learners have 30 days from enrollment to complete.

  Appropriate for a wide range of professionals and peers who have a foundational knowledge of MI.

The MI Beyond Foundations mini courses are designed for learners who want to deepen their MI knowledge, skills, strategies. Each mini course focuses on one concept and is designed with practical application in mind.

Abbreviated Motivational Interviewing Competency Assessment Rating Form

  Approximately 3-4 hours of self-paced with milestones and scheduled activities. Learners have 30 days from enrollment to complete.

  Appropriate for anyone with a foundational knowledge of motivational interviewing.

In this course you will complete an MI skills recording and learn how to use the Abbreviated Motivational Interviewing Competency Assessment (A-MICA) rating form to rate it.  The A-MICA rating form is a practical assessment tool that can be used to help you know where you are on your MI journey and identify areas for growth.

Motivational Interviewing Beyond Foundations Virtual Training

  Combination of webinar, self-paced online content, and practice and feedback sessions, totaling 18 hours.

 Appropriate for a wide range of professional helpers and peers.

This training will go beyond foundational skills, delving deeper into the spirit of MI, the four processes of MI and working with people who may not seem ready or interested in making changes.

Motivational Interviewing Foundations and Brief Action Planning Train the Trainer Workshop

   16 week train the trainer pathway, plus 4 days (32 hours) train the trainer workshop

  Appropriate for educators who are certified in Brief Action Planning.

   Prerequisites:

This workshop will prepare educators to deliver the MI Foundations (MI) Workshop and Brief Action Planning (BAP) Workshop.

Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers Training of New Trainers Prep Program

   Depending on scope of request

  Ideal for people who have taken MI Foundations, MI Beyond the Foundations or equivalent and have done some MI training and are committed to excellence in MI.

CCMI’s Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) Preparation Program will support MI learners who would like to apply for membership in MINT, an international organization promoting high quality MI practice. The program will include access to CCMI’s MINT trainer team, materials, and services to prepare their application. Each cohort of learners will co-design their experience which may include MI journal club, practice & feedback, peer review of recordings and applications, and webinars on selected topics.

MI Skills Demonstration

  30-minute skills demonstration session and 30-minute follow-up coaching call.

  Any individual with knowledge of motivational interviewing

Learning MI is a journey. We all start out at different places and proceed at a pace that works for us. Knowing where you are on your journey, just like knowing where you are on the map, helps you recognize how far you’ve come and consider where you want to go. MI skills demonstrations are an opportunity to record an interaction with a CCMI trainer acting as a standardized patient/client.

For those interested in joining the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers, participating in MI Skills Demonstration with feedback is one element that may be an indicator of experiences the applicant has sought as part of their efforts to acquire competency in MI.

Practice & Feedback

Practice & Feedback calls increase trainees’ confidence and proficiency in MI skills. These one hour video sessions provide opportunities for participants to practice skills in groups of up to four with an MI trainer. Activities may include clarification of a topic, discussion of case studies, role play, real play, or something else that the learner suggests. This handout gives more information about what to expect from video practice and feedback sessions.

These calls are an integral part of skill development, and we encourage learners to attend a session if further skill development is wanted. 

Resources

Dr. Gutnick shares a personal story about using motivational interviews to work with a patient in her practice.

Learning Motivational Interviewing is like learning how to swim: time is spent out of the pool learning the what, why, and how but the most valuable time is spent practicing and receiving feedback on practice. As with any new skill, you build on what you already know. Many clinicians begin with basic skills that involve active listening and appreciating the expertise people have about their own lives. Most people practice with other staff and try out skills with patients as opportunities arise. Workbooks, exercises, coaching and practice over time all improve MI skills.

Motivational Interviewing: A Conversation Style to Improve Engagement

Patients as Partners Knowledge-Building Webinar presented by CCMI
Presented on: Thursday February 12th, 2015

Motivational interviewing is a person-centred conversation style that helps to engage the person and increase their own motivation. One of the key strengths of motivational interviewing is the emphasis on the person’s priorities, values and interests.

The principles of motivational interviewing have been successfully applied for about 30 years in a variety of fields that require behavior or lifestyle changes. These principles are especially important as part of a self-management system for people with chronic conditions.

For more information please watch this webinar presented by Connie Davis, co-director of CCMI. The webinar covers the following topics:

  • Motivational interviewing as an approach to improve engagement and increase motivation
  • The underlying “Spirit” of Motivational Interviewing
  • The four processes of motivational interviewing – engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning