How to Teach Motivational Interviewing
Traditionally motivational interviewing is taught to professionals such as social workers, therapists and, more recently, health care providers to assist individuals with behavioral changes. Motivational interviewing can be particularly useful in encouraging behavioral change among individuals who are less prepared for or resistant to change. Motivational interviewing is best taught in a seminar forum, a workshop, or by onsite consultation. Seminar and workshop forums will often provide opportunities for students to get hands-on experience using the techniques by incorporating case studies and role modeling into the curriculum. When teaching motivational interviewing, there are some key concepts that should be addressed.
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Instructions
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Teaching the Basics of MI
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Explain the basic concepts of motivational interviewing. These include self-efficacy, self-esteem, developing discrepancy, expressing empathy, avoiding arguments, and dealing with resistance.
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Teach the skills needed for motivational interviewing, such as reflective listening, negotiation strategies and reinforcement techniques, and rolling with resistance.
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Make time for practice. Give the students opportunity to practice motivational interviewing techniques by role playing and working in groups to review case studies. Use student experiences. Be sure to encourage students to share their experiences and use those stories as opportunities for role modeling to reinforce key concepts.
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Respect your audience's expertise. If you are conducting an onsite consultation, use the setting as an opportunity to allow students to build on or enhance their skills. Plan to spend one day shadowing the students as they interact with clients. Encourage them to share their own experiences, and learn how to use motivational interviewing in familiar and new situations.
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Do a pre-test and post-test. Give students a pre-test to determine their knowledge base. After the seminar, workshop or onsite consultation, give students a post-test to demonstrate what they have learned and to show them how they have increased their skill level.
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Tips & Warnings
Further motivational interviewing information and training opportunities can be found at the www.motivationalinterview.org website.
Motivational interviewing is not a simple therapy technique to learn. Many professionals will work at developing and honing their motivational interviewing technique skills through continuing education opportunities, workshops, and reading books on the subject.
References
- Rollnick S, and Miller WR. (1995) Motivational Interviewing: Resources for Clinicians, Researchers and Trainers. What is MI? Retrieved January 7, 2010 from http://motivationalinterview.org
- Martino S, Haeseler F, Belitsky R, Pantalon M, Fortin AH 4th.Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06516, USA.
