Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a "collaborative conversation style for strengthening a person’s own motivation and commitment to change" (Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change, 3rd Edition). This evidence-based approach is valuable for practitioners in health and human services who want to work more effectively in helping clients make positive changes related to their health, behavioral health, housing status, and overall wellbeing.
MI is person-centered and goal-oriented. It can support people in resolving ambivalent feelings, increasing motivation to change, and enhancing commitment to change. The individual determines the focus or change goal while the practitioner serves as a guide. MI assumes that people already possess what they need to be motivated to change. It helps explore resources people possess that can be used to help them make decisions about next steps on their life's journey.
A wealth of studies indicate that MI has a statistically significant positive effect on behavior change, with some showing that those changes are more durable over time. Experience and research have shown that training in MI is essential, but not sufficient to create lasting change in clinical approaches of practitioners. In addition to training, learning MI requires ongoing practice with accurate feedback and coaching.
Our MI offerings meet the needs of your staff wherever they are along the MI learning pathway – from beginning to intermediate to advanced levels. Our MI trainers have worked with a range of health and human service providers including healthcare practitioners, behavioral health clinicians, and homeless service providers. Our MI trainers are also members of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT), an international organization committed to promoting high-quality MI practice and training.
We Can Help You
- Assess current Motivational Interviewing skills
- Gain an understanding of MI and begin having motivational conversations
- Describe the spirit, processes, core skills, and strategies of MI
- Understand why MI matters and how it works
- Show proficiency in strategic use of MI skills
- Code and coach MI conversations using the Motivational Interviewing Competency Assessment (MICA) and Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI)
- Implement MI in your organization including procedures, policies, and ongoing measurement
- Move from individual providers practicing MI to successfully implementing MI in your organization's vision and values
"Your style and professionalism served us well. The techniques you utilized were very effective in maximizing participation and skill building. Participant feedback was very positive. Thank you for your wisdom, guidance, and expertise. Our state has been pleased with the services offered from C4 Innovations." -Feedback from a 5-part Motivational Interviewing online training series by Ken Kraybill
"I took an online MI course and loved it. I am working on an MS in nutrition and my RN at the same time...taking the MI course changed my life. I plan on taking many more classes." -Participant in Motivational Interviewing course
Learn more about partnering with us.
Our Experts
Ali Hall, Senior Trainer
Learn More
- Skilled Management and Supervision Essentials: online course starts April 9, 2024
- Essentials of Person-Centered Case Management-starts May 7
- Facilitating Post-Traumatic Growth and Recovery: online course starts June 26, 2024
- Equity in Action: Trauma-Informed Supervision: online course starts October 23, 2024
- Equity and Inclusion: Navigating Systemic Marginalization: online course starts November 14, 2024
- Building Knowledge in Motivational Interviewing Part 1—self-paced course
- Building Knowledge in Motivational Interviewing Part 2—self-paced course
- Introduction to the Motivational Interviewing Competency Assessment (MICA)—self-paced course
- Motivational Interviewing Coding Lab—for advanced MI skills building and evaluating motivational conversations
- Motivational Interviewing: Talking with People about Change—webinar recording hosted by Ken Kraybill (60:48 minutes)
- Motivational Interviewing—podcast series
- Changing the Conversation: An Interactive Tool to Build Motivational Interviewing Skills
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Critical Time Intervention
- Person-Centered Strategies
Learn more about our expertise and training and technical assistance approaches and offerings.