Motivational Interviewing (MI) is "a collaborative conversation style for strengthening a person's own commitment to change" (Miller & Rollnick, 2013) and is recognized as an evidence-based practice. Providers who are trained in MI learn how to support people who are contemplating change through reflective and empathic listening, focusing and evoking change talk. 

Motivational Interviewing (MI) has become a gold-standard communication style used in behavioral health, medical and judicial settings, but do people who are trained actually become proficient in MI after a standard two-day class? The answer to this question is a resounding “no”. Although participants in an introductory workshop often report feeling confident in their new MI skills, changes in practice behavior are usually modest at best (Miller & Mount, 2001) and quickly diminish after training if nothing more is done to consolidate them (Miller, et al., 2004; Schwalbe, et al., 2014). This advanced workshop is designed to offer opportunities for continued learning and practice by focusing on skill builiding through practice and feedback.

Topics presented in this workshop include:

• Cultivating Change Talk
• Softening Sustain Talk
• Complex Reflections and Affirmations
• MI Coding and Feedback
• Implementation
• Deliberate Practice and Community Learning Groups

The Trainers

Alicia Shiver, MA, LMHC, LADAC, MINT member and Lindsay Worth, MPA, MA, LMHC, MINT member.

Lindsay Worth and Alicia Shiver are members of MINT and co-owners of MITC, a behavioral health training organization based in Albuquerque, NM.

They have a combined 35 years of experience working in clinical research and the behavioral health field. Lindsay and Alicia have been training critical supporters in their community over the past 8 years and have experience in MI coding using the MITI and MISC. They have received direct training, feedback and coaching by the founder of MI, Dr. William Miller.