April 12, 2013
9am – 4pm | $175
Instructor: Angela Rolleman, MSW

Motivational interviewing (MI), developed by clinical psychologists William Miller and Stephen Rollnick, is a directive, client-centered approach used to strengthen clients’ motivation for positive behaviour change by exploring and resolving feelings of ambivalence. Research has shown that the MI approach, first developed for work with problem drinkers, is effective in activating positive behaviour change for a wide range of concerns including substance abuse, mental health problems, unhealthy relationships, diabetes management, smoking cessation, weight loss, unemployment and health care improvement.

This one-day interactive workshop will introduce participants to the fundamental principles and techniques of motivational interviewing. Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

• describe the basic concepts of motivational interviewing, including its spirit and essential strategies
• describe the stages of change model and explain the relationship between motivational interventions and stages of change
• assess clients’ readiness for change
• implement motivational interviewing strategies to explore and resolve clients' feelings of ambivalence or resistance to change
• identify and facilitate "change talk" in their clients
• strengthen empathic counselling skills (described by the OARS acronym)