What is Motivational Interviewing?
Motivational Interviewing is a wonderful and effective alternative to telling people what to do regarding their health. Many clinicians find that trying to convince people to change their behavior about their health just doesn’t work. We have tried to threaten, coach, encourage, and convince our patients and clients, all to no avail.
Motivational Interviewing is an evidence-based counseling style of relating to patients or clients. It includes the spirit of collaboration and empathy as well as a set of counseling skills and behavioral strategies designed to help clients convince themselves that they ought to change their behavior to achieve a desired outcome. MI includes strategies that will enhance the client’s own motivation for and commitment to change.
MI is based upon the idea that most people already have the skills and answers they need to successfully modify lifestyle and decrease health-risk. We assume that clients are the experts in their own lives, and we collaborate with our clients to help them find these answers together.
MI is different than typical medical style, in that it avoids confrontation, coersion, cajoling, or otherwise trying to convince the client that they should change. Our job is to help patients clarify their own goals and values and make decisions about what they will do based on those goals and values.
Motivational Interviewing has been incorporated interventions for dietary behavior change for weight management, diabetes management, alcohol and drug problems, tobacco use, cardiac rehabilitation, the control of chronic hypertension, domestic violence and many other behavioral health care problems.
Who Would Benefit From Learning the skills of MI?
We offer MI training, tutoring, coaching and consultation to health care providers including:
- physicians, nurses
- dietitians
- pharmacists
- social services professionals
- psychologists and other mental health professionals
- guidance counselors
- physical therapists
- dentists
- criminal justice professionals
In What Settings is MI Used?
Motivational Interviewing has been used effectively in a wide variety of health care settings. MI has been incorporated into the treatment of many medical and social issues, including substance abuse, diabetes, weight management, smoking cessation, medication compliance, mental illness, HIV, domestic violence, and cardiac rehabilitation. MI is also used in counseling to prevent illness, including enhancing the likelihood that patients will increase physical activity, eat a healthy diet, breastfeed their baby, and have screening tests such as colonoscopy and mammograms.
What Types of Training are Available?
Our Team offers training in MI in a variety of settings which includes in-person workshops, teleconferences or via Skype. We will evaluate and consult with your organization to determine the most effective and cost-efficient means for you and your staff to learn MI skills. Contact us for a free training proposal and consultation for training you and your staff.
