Creating change can be one of the hardest things for many of us to do. Anything from quitting smoking to getting ourselves to leave for work 15 minutes earlier, old habits really do die hard. We are often even ambivalent or even resistant to changes we know help us. So how do we help clients make changes they want to make, but are not ready for? In steps Motivational Interviewing training….
I remember when I first heard about motivational interviewing training we started early in grad school. So are we learning how to do Tony Robbins style inspiration speaking?? But motivational interviewing starts by helping individuals really understand possible changes to make. It does this while exploring and addressing ambivalence about those changes.
This approach is partially based on Prochaska and DiClemente’s transtheoretical model of change. The model demonstrates that individuals are often at any level of readiness for making particular changes in their lives. Certain changes are more or less likely depending on how ready they are.
Motivation interviewing therefore emphasizes not having a therapist agenda for change. Therapists truly meet clients where they are at by having clients take the lead on exploring their own ambivalence and barriers to initiating change. Research finds this approach is effective to help facilitate a change process. No wonder why it is so commonly used with substance abuse. But it is also helpful for other types of resolutions or changes (e.g., treatment adherence, weight loss, etc.).
And evidence finds that exactly how therapists conduct motivation interviewing matters for its effectiveness. In particular, high levels of client change talk and sustain talk are related to better outcomes. So motivational interviewing “done well” appears important. Luckily, there are good motivation interviewing trainings to help!
PsychWire has a good training on the foundations of motivational interviewing. This training is live (with multiple dates), but the approach’s creators conduct it. So straight from the horses mouth could be worth the wait! These authors also have a detailed book on this method.
Concept hosts another good foundational motivation interviewing training on-demand. Nice, if you do not want to wait. Their course is geared to early or mid-career professionals. But it even helps those needing a good re-up on training and skills.
Both trainings boast covering underlying theory while also providing techniques and skills to boost therapist resources. That is key: what to do for clients along with knowing why it helps is a great combination. So whether it’s quitting substances, losing weight, making changes to affect mental health, or something else, motivation interviewing can make us and our clients more effective.
