I receive many requests for information on the best ways to learn MI. Over the years I’ve developed some very effective group training and individual coaching programs. If you are fortunate enough to have the resources (opportunity, time and money), a full day training workshop in MI is ideal. I know that’s not possible for many who wish to learn MI.
Those in-person workshops are really the best way to begin to develop MI skills, but an alternative is to have in-person coaching, which can be by phone or video call. You can have this as an individual or with a small group. This coaching approach is for professionals in all stages of skill with MI, from beginners to advanced learners. Here’s a summary of how it works:
- We begin with a phone call (20-30 Minutes) to discuss your experience and goals with MI. You are the one to decide what you want to learn, and how you want to go about it.
- I will make suggestions about activities you can use to achieve your goals. I recommend Building Motivational Interviewing Skills, by David Rosengren as a workbook for these activities. I will suggest specific chapters and exercises from this book, and ask you to write something about what you learned and what questions you have.
- I will review this, and have a phone call (30-60 minutes, as you wish) to discuss.
- When you feel ready, you can record yourself with a patient/client or someone role playing, and submit the recording to me for evaluation. I will give you written feedback (always emphasizing what you do WELL) and have a phone or video conversation about this feedback.
That’s an outline of what I typically do, but it’s really shaped by your goals and how it goes for you. As with MI itself, this process is driven by what you want to do and how you feel the learning and skill development is going for you.
I know that cost is an issue for most people, so I charge by the hour for my time. The initial phone call is free, and most of the work is done by you! The cost is in the time spent on the phone with me, and if you choose to do it, my evaluation of your recording.
Contact me at ellen@trainingwithdrellen.com or (781) 290-8886 for more information and to schedule a complimentary phone call to discuss your goals. If you have colleagues who want to do this with you, we can create a coaching group. This will minimize the cost per person.
