Altering behavior is complicated, and providers can either help the change process by becoming “change agents” in partnership with the service recipient or hinder the process by unwittingly pushing too hard. This training is a supplementary training for practitioners who have already mastered the Motivational Interviewing (MI) skills offered in the introductory MI training, such as Open-ended questions, Affirming, Reflective listening, and Summarizing (OARS), expressing empathy, rolling with resistance, and avoiding common road blocks to change. In this training, participants learn how to use “change talk” to elicit client motivation. “Change talk” is a non-confrontational MI approach to help clients make their own realizations about their need for change. In addition, the training introduces common MI techniques such as DARN: Desire to Change, Ability to Change, Reasons to Change, Need to change statements, reframing, agreement with a twist, and amplified and double-sided reflections. The goal of the training is to help practitioners promote a persons’ commitment to change by advancing their use of MI techniques and avoiding traps that interfere with motivation. Attendees will leave with a greater understanding of their role in the change process when working with others.

Please note that you are not required to attend Foundations of Motivational Interviewing (MI): Part 1 prior to this training, as it is not a prerequisite.