I’m often asked about the best ways to Learn Motivational Interviewing. The first and simplest is to read about MI. But, that alone won’t make you proficient. It’s the consistent practice with others and working with a good MI trainer that leads to proficiency. You can be sure of high quality work from a professional who is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT). This is the international professional organization of MI trainers, who have been trained to teach MI in a consistent and high quality manner. I am a MINT member.
By the way, if I can help you improve your MI skills, or just get you started, please contact me. We can tailor a plan to your personal needs.
- Read and learn
- There are many wonderful books, blogs and podcasts on Motivational Interviewing. You will find a few of my favorites here (link). The books that are for particular topic areas, such as adolescents, diabetes, and nutrition and fitness are great for general MI, but focus on that subject.
- I especially recommend David Rosengren’s Building Motivational Interviewing Skills, as this is a self-led workbook. You can improve your skill either by yourself, with a study buddy, or by listening to TV or movies and identifying MI when you hear it. David has developed some creative ways to help people build skills.
- See also, my blog: http://trainingwithdrellen.com/blog/, where you will find articles from past issues of this newsletter.
- Listen and practice
Another way to improve your MI skills is by listening to high quality video demonstrations of “how to” and “how not to” simulations. Unfortunately, there are many videos online that are just poor examples of MI, so it’s wise to beware. If what you are listening to just doesn’t sound right, move on to another one. Here are a few of my favorites to get you started:
- Any videos by Merlo Labs and Lisa Merlo, a member of MINT. She and her group have produced a series of videos for specific professions, including pediatric medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and student counseling. Each is a pair, with one good example and one not-so-good example.
- Good example of using MI in the brief conversation about alcohol use: https://www.youtube.com/timedtext_video?v=Sih1kjR1KMA
- A tongue in cheek quick piece on how to use MI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4EDhdAHrOg
- Any videos by Dawn Clifford, a Registered Dietitian and MINT member. She has produced a series of tips, and demonstration videos which are excellent.
- Steve Rollnick, one of the founders of MI, in a demo with a “resistant” patient: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTRRNWrwRCo&t=63s
- Brene Brown on emphathy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw
- An online quick overview of MI by Bill Matulich, a MINT member: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3MCJZ7OGRk&t=6s
- Podcast on MI: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/glenn-hinds-sebastian-kaplan/talking-to-change-a-motivational-interviewing-podcast. Hinds and Kaplan produce a regular podcast on MI, which I highly recommend.
