Motivational Interviewing (MI): Basic

2 days course

Motivational Interviewing is a counselling technique which aims to encourage clients into deciding to change addictive behaviour It is mainly used with users of drugs and alcohol, but can easily be applied to other behaviours including smoking, eating, sexual behaviour and offending behaviour. MI strategies avoid confrontational methods, because the aim is to get the client to be the one who presents the arguments for change.

Central to MI techniques are a number of person-centred counselling skills including, open-ended questions, reflective listening, affirmations and summarising. However, while person-centred counselling is mostly non-directive, in MI these skills are used in a directive way aimed at encouraging clients to explore their ambivalence and consider change. These skills are used selectively to reinforce self- motivational statements, which express concern about substance use or another addictive behaviour and reasons for change. Once a decision to change has been made by the client, the MI counsellor uses more cognitive-behavioural strategies to help clients to set specific and realistic goals and methods.

Course aims:

• Introduce the theoretical and clinical foundations of MI.


• Help participants to gain insight into their own processes of change and resistance and how it relates to theory.


• Learn and practice step by step MI strategies and skills.


• Examine different possible applications of MI.

• Have an understanding of the theoretical foundation of MI.


• Have a better understanding of their own issues regarding change and resistance to change.


• Have learned MI skills and techniques to enable them to feel more confident and use as appropriate in their working environment.


• Identify the benefits and potential applications of MI in the context of the particular organisation. For example, as an assessment tool; as brief focused one to one interventions; and/or as part of an on going counselling work.

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