University of Toronto

Have you ever felt as if you’re working harder than your client? That your every suggestion for change is met with a “Yes, but…” reply?

Based on the work of Dr. William Miller, Motivational Interviewing is a widely used, evidence-based approach to facilitating change across a diverse range of behaviours and in a variety of contexts. For example, it has been used successfully in substance use treatment, criminal justice settings, homelessness, HIV/AIDS prevention, health and mental health, organizational change, and more. This practical and dynamic session outlines the key strategies in enhancing motivation with clients who are unwilling – or seem unable – to make positive changes in their lives. We will focus on core motivational interviewing skills to build trust and rapport, strengthen clients’ commitment to positive goals, as well as working with clients to develop a personalized “change plan.”

This workshop is designed to be engaging, interactive and responsive to participants’ learning needs; and includes live and video demonstrations, case examples, group discussion and opportunities for practice. You will leave the session with concrete strategies that you can apply in your own clinical setting.

Content includes:
- The “spirit” of motivational interviewing, and why it is central to this approach
- The four core skills to motivate change
- How to respond effectively to clients who are ambivalent or stuck in negative patterns
- Strategies for dealing with “resistant” or hostile clients
- How to listen for and evoke client “change talk”
- Tools for creating a structured change plan with clients

Learning objectives:
At the end of this course you will be able to:
1. Respond effectively to clients’ ambivalence about changing health and lifestyle behaviours
2. Provide information in a collaborative and motivational way
3. Use agenda-setting to work with complex clients
4. Practice core skills in motivational interviewing
5. Set practice objectives and identify further resources to continue to develop motivational interviewing skills.

Marilyn Herie, Ph.D.

Dr. Marilyn Herie is Director of the TEACH Project at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, as well as Director of the University of Toronto Collaborative Program in Addiction Studies, and Assistant Professor (Status Only) at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at U of T. Dr. Herie is a member of the international MINT organization (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers), has facilitated hundreds of courses and workshops nationally and internationally, and has numerous publications in the areas of addiction treatment and knowledge exchange, including the 2010 Oxford University Press book: Substance Abuse in Canada.