Motivational Interviewing
Transform your practice, empower your clients and improve outcomes
What is MI?
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, goal-oriented method of communication that focuses on the language of change. It is designed to help practitioners strengthen an individual’s motivation for and movement toward a specific goal by eliciting and exploring the person’s own arguments for change.
Why MI?
The evidence to support MI is immense. There are over 2,500 peer-reviewed publications, 250 clinical trials and several meta-analyses that cite the use of a motivational approach for a wide range of behavior changes. When compared to other evidence-based interventions, MI is at least equal, and there is no dose response requirement for MI training. Thus, any training in MI is likely to improve the skillfulness of the participants. Dozens of studies show the following themes:
- Change effects are rapid and durable over time.
- MI has been tested with diverse populations, with favorable outcomes.
- When integrated with other evidence-based practice, MI can lead to synergistic and more favorable outcomes than a stand-alone approach.
- MI is as effective, on average, as more intensive and lengthy treatments.
Who uses MI?
Motivational Interviewing is used by a range of professionals, including but not limited to:
- Psychologists, counselors, therapists and behavioral health specialists
- Social workers, case managers and human services providers
- Student affairs and youth services professionals
- Educators
- Correctional workers
- Prevention specialists
- Managers and supervisors
- Physicians, nurses, other health care and allied health care providers
- Health and allied health undergraduate and graduate students
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Our training philosophy
UW–Madison’s MI courses are taught by members of the MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers) who are committed to teaching MI to fidelity. Our training goals include increasing the learner’s capacity to use and continue to practice this complex, evidence-based approach to behavior change. Increasing skillfulness with MI contributes to increased engagement, clearer focus, and a higher likelihood that clients/patients/students/staff will resolve their ambivalence and move in the direction of change.
MI training for every level
Building Motivational Interviewing Competency
Learner level: Beginner
This 30-hour certificate program focuses on the MI skills of engaging, focusing, evoking and planning. The program includes 12 hours of live online sessions, 18 hours of self-study in a learner management system (with weekly assignments) and one practice session with peer feedback and two practice sessions with instructor feedback. Participants who successfully complete all course requirements will earn a noncredit Building MI Competency certificate.
This program is for you if:
- You’ve had little to no experience in MI
- Your most recent experience with MI occurred more than 12–18 months ago
- Your experience with MI was limited to a short workshop
Advancing Motivational interviewing Skills
Learner level: Intermediate to advanced
This 20-hour course is for participants with previous MI experience who want to strengthen their existing skill set. You’ll learn further knowledge and skills to recognize client change talk, sustain talk, and discord; employ strategies for effective responses; distinguish signs of readiness for planning; and employ strategies for testing the waters of change. It includes 12 hours of live online sessions, 8 hours of self-study in a learner management system, one practice session with peer feedback and two practice sessions with instructor feedback.
This course is for you if:
- You’ve had 8–20 hours of previous MI training
- You have general knowledge of MI fundamentals: OARS (open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections and summaries) and the Spirit of MI
- You want to improve your technical skills of guiding a client towards change
- You have technical MI skills of guiding a client towards change
Great Lakes Motivational Interviewing Conference
Learner level: Beginner to advanced
This annual conference, held each August on the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, is designed to enhance MI knowledge and promote skills development. It offers general and special sessions for practitioners across professions and levels of skillfulness. Conference keynotes address macro perspectives, breakout sessions share new and creative strategies to challenge and enhance MI learning, and preconference sessions delve more deeply into MI knowledge and best practices.
This conference is for you if:
- You have an interest in MI practice
- You want to learn from expert MINT instructors
- You want to learn about the latest developments in MI
- You want to network with other practitioners from across the Midwest and beyond
The MI conference rejuvenated my passion for client centered care and belief in client’s ability to change. The conference included professionals that were able to articulate and model amazing use of MI skills that benefitted my learning and future practice.
Lauren Hollie, social worker, Great Lakes Motivational Interviewing Conference
The trainers Laura and Adrienne are awesome, and Ashley kept the course well organized. I really enjoyed the live Zoom sessions. They were a great opportunity to practice the material. The readings were helpful as were the worksheets.
Spring 2023 participant, Building MI Competency Certificate
This class was well worth my investment of time and money to advance my competency in Motivational Interviewing. As anxious as I felt about the recorded MI interviews with simulated clients/patients, the feedback provided truly accelerated my learning. Live classes are better, and this virtual class was convenient and effective.
Yasyn Lee, consultation psychiatrist, Advancing Motivational Interview Skills
Questions?
Contact Ashley Kuehl at ashley.kuehl@wisc.edu.