Principles of Motivational Interviewing: An Introductory Workshop

Course Description

Motivational interviewing (MI) has emerged as one of the most critical, evidence-based approaches when working with patients to promote behavior change. Originally developed in the context of treating substance use disorders, MI is a collaborative method of communication that pays particular attention to the language of change. MI helps to strengthen intrinsic motivation for change by exploring the patient’s own reasons for change within an atmosphere of acceptance, partnership, evocation and compassion. The MI approach has been researched extensively in diverse settings, including primary care, mental health, addictions, education, and corrections, and continuously evolving MI strategies have necessitated ongoing education for all types of healthcare workers.

This introductory course is designed to help a variety of clinicians interested in learning the basic MI principles to translate that knowledge into practice. The course will review the four processes, spirit of MI, patient-centered communications skills, change and sustain talk, and approaches to patients who are “resistant” to change. Multiple learning approaches will be used throughout the course, including didactics, video demonstrations, role-plays, and small group discussions. The target audience for this course includes physicians, psychiatrists, mental health practitioners, nurses, social workers, addiction counselors, dieticians, pharmacists, and other allied health professionals who help patients adopt more healthy lifestyles.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Describe and demonstrate the spirit of motivational interviewing (MI) and its four processes (engaging, focusing, evoking, planning) 
• Utilize patient-centered MI skills to help elicit and strengthen the internal motivation for change
• Adapt the MI skills to fit in participants’ current practice setting and target behaviors

Target Audience

This course is targeted to primary care physicians, specialty physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physician assistants and psychologists.  This course may also be of interest to physicians who practice  in family medicine, healthcare education and leadership, lifestyle and mind body medicine, physical medicine & rehabilitation, preventive medicine, psychiatry, neurology, psychology and mental health.

ABMS/ACGME Competencies

The course is designed to meet the following American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) / Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educational (ACGME) competencies:

• Patient Care and Procedural Skills
• Medical Knowledge
• Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

IOM Competencies

The course is designed to meet the following Institute of Medicine (IOM) Competencies:

• Provide Patient-Centered Care
• Employ Evidence-Based Practice