Motivational Interviewing: Continuing the Journey

Steven Malcolm Berg-Smith   

Training Description

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a state-of-the-art, evidence-based communication and counseling approach for guiding clients to make and sustain positive behavior changes in brief clinical encounters.  Generally recognized as a practical, common sense approach, becoming proficient in MI—however—is an on-going learning process requiring significant training, practice, and feedback/supervision.  This intensive 2-day intermediate workshop is designed for individuals who have completed introductory training in MI, and have experience using this method in an applied setting.  Participants will be guided through a sequence of learning activities to move from basic competence to intermediate clinical skillfulness, and provided an introduction to current advances in MI.  Learning activities will include: real-life demonstrations, videotape examples, “real-plays”, case studies, small group exercises, and significant participant practice with feedback.        

Learning Objectives

• Describe the “spirit” and key principles of a guiding, person-centered counseling style 
• Observe and debrief demonstrations and DVD examples of MI.
• Demonstrate and practice intermediate skills and strategies of MI (e.g., strategic reflective listening, rolling with resistance, eliciting change talk, developing discrepancy, mobilizing core values, transitioning through the 4 processes of MI)  
• Receive individual feedback in MI practice behavior.
• Develop a personal plan for enhancing confidence and competence in applying MI into clinical practice  

Agenda

Day 1

1. Welcome, Overview, and hopes: 9:00-9:15am

 - MI satisfaction assessment 

 - MI skillfulness assessment

2. MI Review: 9:15-9:30am

3. Get R.E.A.L: Style is Everything! 9:30-9:40am

- Respect

- Empathy

- Active Collaboration

- Listening

- Exercise: Listening with presence

4. Where helping professionals get stuck in learning MI: 9:40-10:00am

-   Letting go of the expert role

-   Using complex reflections

-   Missed opportunities

-   Insufficient direction

-   Opposing resistance

-   Failing to move on to action planning

-   Not consolidating commitment

-   Not letting go of MI

5. Recognizing, Reinforcing, and Eliciting Change Talk (Part 1): 10:00-10:30am

-   Prep versus Activating

6. Strategic Reflective Listening: Guiding Towards Change Talk (Part 1): 10:30-11:00am

BREAK: 11:00-11:15am (CEUs will not be offered for this time)

7. Strategic Reflective Listening: Guiding Towards Change Talk (Part 1): 11:15-11:45am

8. MI Demonstration: Following the Roadmap: 11:45am-12:15am

9. Exchanging Information (Education, Advice, Feedback, Referral): 12:15-12:45

- Explore—Offer—Explore

10. Offering Advice: 12:45pm-1:00pm

11. Wrap-up: Key Learning’s: 1:00--1:15pm

Day 2

1. Key Learning’s from Day 1: 9:00-9:15am

2. Strategic Listening (part 2): Selectively Reflect Change Talk: 9:15-9:45am

3. Rolling with Resistance: 9:45-10:15am

- “Batting Practice”

4. Raising Difficult Topics: 10:15-10:30am

5. Recognizing, Reinforcing, and Eliciting Change Talk (Part 2): 10:30-11:00am

BREAK: 11:00-11:15am (CEUs will not be offered at this time)

6. Values and Motivation: Linking core values to future goals, hopes, dreams: 11:15am-noon

- “Values Card Sort”

7. MI Practice with Feedback: noon--12:45pm

8.. Questions and Answers: 12:45-1:00pm

9. Closing Activities: 1:00-1:15pm

- MI Satisfaction Assessment

- MI Skillfulness Assessment

- Reminder Chart

- Evaluation

Meet Our Trainer

For over 28 years, Steven Malcolm Berg-Smith has worked as a behavior change counselor, health educator, drug & alcohol prevention specialist, and researcher.  He currently has a private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area as a motivational interviewing (MI) trainer, consultant, coach & mentor. A member of the International Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) since 1994, Steve has conducted over 900 motivational interviewing (MI) workshops and presentations throughout the US and internationally.  Considered a master trainer by his peers, Steve has served as a “trainer of trainers” for MINT, and collaborated in the design of MI-inspired behavior change intervention protocols for numerous national clinical research trials.  He has authored a manual on the “The Art of Teaching Motivational Interviewing,” along with several frequently cited articles on how to use motivation-enhancing tools and strategies to support adolescents and adults in making positive lifestyle changes. Steven holds a MS in Community Health Education from the University of Oregon, and a BA in psychology from the University of Redlands. 

This TWO DAY LONG course meets the qualifications for (8) BBS CEUs for LCSWs and MFTs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.