Motivational Interviewing (MI) is the gold standard of change-work tools. It is used as the foundation of excellence in all services including prisons, psychiatric units, and rehabilitation units. MI originated by observing the most effective practitioners and identifying what they do that makes all the difference to their clients. These observed techniques have been distilled into a skill-set that we can all adopt to improve outcomes for those we work with. Because of this, it has become the essential training for substance misuse practitioners, social workers and any social care provider. Since the late 1980s MI has been delivering results that all providers need. Its value is now so recognised that MI is becoming the default minimum staff quality standard for practitioners. Many commissioners now make it a requirement that teams they commission will be trained in this skill-set.
Motivational Interviewing is a client-centred directive method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence. Implementing the MI techniques has a huge impact. MI integrates empathy, open questions, reflective listening to create understanding of the client’s point of view.
Motivational Interviewing is focused, goal-directed, and by using a less direct persuasive approach, it is overall more successful at solving ambivalence. These flexible tools and techniques promote higher rates of sustainable change. MI has the added benefit of reducing the stresses placed on your teams from resistance. This stress reduction promotes great effectiveness, retention and well being in your teams.
The Betterminds Motivational Interviewing course will equip your staff with all the tools and resources to be confident effective practitioners.
The Betterminds Motivational Interviewing Course usually runs for two days.
This training can be delivered back to back. We recommend that with any 2 day training you split it across a week or even longer. This is because your teams will have a better learning and growth experience. They will gain more insight by applying the tools learnt on day 1 prior to day 2. They will have a greater opportunity to process the learning, and better identify their own learning needs by day 2.
Betterminds also delivers a day long refresher course in MI for established and very confident practitioners. We would recommend this course only after the whole team have accessed our 2 day training course previously.
This course will be useful in organisations that specialise in helping others to make sustainable changes. MI is vital where self-efficacy and independence are essential, working to support people to promote a life of partial or complete independence.
MI also plays a crucial role for social care professionals and anyone who works with vulnerable adults and young people. Professionals who would benefit from Motivational Interviewing skills include workers in substance misuse, social housing, mental health nurses, general practitioners and education providers.