Motivational Interviewing Training: Overview, Best Practices, Benefits & Examples

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a counselling approach that aims to help individuals explore and resolve ambivalence about behaviour change. It is widely used in various fields, including healthcare, addiction treatment, and mental health.

MI training equips professionals with the skills and techniques necessary to engage clients in conversations that promote positive change effectively.

This guide will provide an overview of MI training, including its definition, best practices, features, benefits, and examples.

Definition:
Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, person-centred counselling style that enhances an individual’s motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence. It is based on empathy, acceptance, and evoking intrinsic motivation.

MI training teaches professionals how to use activities to effectively communicate with clients, elicit their motivations for change, and support them in making positive behavioral changes. We frequently hear this from clients looking for training material on facilitation skills.

Best Practices for Motivational Interviewing Training:

1. Develop Empathy: MI training emphasizes the importance of understanding and empathizing with clients’ perspectives. Practitioners should actively listen, show genuine interest, and validate clients’ feelings and experiences.
2. Cultivate Reflective Listening: Reflective listening involves paraphrasing and summarizing clients’ statements to demonstrate understanding. MI training teaches professionals to use reflective listening to encourage clients to explore their motivations and reasons for change.
3. Elicit Change Talk: Change talk refers to clients’ statements that express their desire, ability, reasons, or need for change. MI training helps professionals identify and elicit change talk by asking open-ended questions, exploring discrepancies, and highlighting the positive aspects of change.
4. Roll with Resistance: MI training teaches professionals to avoid aggressive or argumentative approaches when faced with resistance. Instead, they learn to acknowledge and explore non-judgmentally clients’ concerns, ambivalence, and barriers to change.
5. Support Self-efficacy: Self-efficacy refers to an individual’s belief in their ability to change. MI training emphasizes supporting clients’ self-efficacy by highlighting their strengths, previous successes, and available resources.

Features of Motivational Interviewing Training:

1. Person-Centred Approach: MI training focuses on understanding and respecting each individual’s unique perspectives, values, and goals.
2. Collaboration: MI training emphasizes a collaborative relationship between the professional and the client, where decisions and goals are made together.
3. Evoking Intrinsic Motivation: MI training teaches professionals to elicit and strengthen clients’ own motivations for change rather than imposing external motivations.
4. Ambivalence Resolution: MI training equips professionals with techniques to help clients explore and resolve their ambivalence about change.
5. Skill Development: MI training provides professionals with practical skills, such as reflective listening, open-ended questioning, and summarizing, to engage clients in conversations about change effectively.

Benefits of Motivational Interviewing Training:

1. Enhanced Client Engagement: MI and job interviewing training help professionals build rapport and engage clients in meaningful conversations about change.
2. Increased Client Autonomy: MI training supports clients in exploring their motivations and making autonomous decisions about change.
3. Improved Treatment Outcomes: MI training and the GROW coaching model have improved treatment adherence and outcomes in various fields, including addiction treatment and healthcare.
4. Reduced Resistance: MI training equips professionals with strategies to address and reduce client resistance to change effectively.
5. Personal and Professional Growth: MI training enhances professionals’ communication skills, empathy, and ability to support clients in making positive changes.

Examples of Motivational Interviewing:

1. Client: “I know I should exercise more, but I just can’t find the time.”
   Professional: “It sounds like finding time for exercise is challenging for you. Can you tell me more about what gets in the way?”
2. Client: “I don’t think I can quit smoking. It’s too hard.”
   Professional: “Quitting smoking can be difficult. What are some reasons you would like to quit?”
3. Client: “I want to lose weight but love eating junk food.”
   Professional: “It sounds like you have mixed feelings about changing your eating habits. What are some benefits you see in losing weight?”
4. Client: “I don’t think therapy will help me.”
   Professional: “You seem sceptical about therapy. Can you tell me more about your concerns?”
5. Client: “I’m unsure if I’m ready to make changes.”
   Professional: “It’s normal to have mixed feelings about change. What are some things that make you consider making changes?”
6. Client: “I’ve tried quitting before but always relapsed.”
   Professional: “Relapses are common when trying to quit. What are some strategies you’ve used in the past that have helped you stay smoke-free?”
7. Client: “I don’t think I have the willpower to make changes.”
   Professional: “Willpower can be challenging. What are some strengths or resources you have that can support you in making changes?”
8. Client: “I’m not sure if I can afford therapy.”
   Professional: “Financial concerns can be a barrier to seeking therapy. Are there any resources or options we can explore together?”
9. Client: “I’m scared of failing if I try to change.”
   Professional: “Fear of failure is common. What small steps can you take to test the waters and build confidence?”
10. Client: “I don’t think my family will support my decision to change.”
    Professional: “Family support can be important. How can we involve your family in your journey towards change?”

Remember, Motivational Interviewing is a skill that requires practice and ongoing development.

By incorporating these best practices, understanding their features, and recognizing their benefits, professionals within their own roles or their own training businesses can effectively support clients using life coaching in their journey towards positive change.

Catherine Fitzgerald B.A. M.A. PGDip( Founder )

With 30+ years of experience, Catherine Fitzgerald, B.A., M.A., PGDip, founded Oak Innovation in 1995. Catherine received her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s from University College Cork. She holds qualifications in Professional Development And Training from University College Galway. She is completing a second Master’s from University College Cork. Since 1995, clients include Apple, Time Warner, and Harvard University.