Motivational Interviewing 101: Foundations and Skills Development

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a self-management support approach that uses a collaborative conversation style with people in order to draw out and strengthen their motivation and commitment to change. Whether you are a home care nurse trying to help someone who is struggling with multiple chronic conditions or a case worker helping someone to meet their daily needs on a limited income, the core skills can be learned by anyone interested in supporting others to make change. MI is particularly useful for those who have the opportunity to engage with patients or clients who are facing complex situations, ambivalence, or multiple concerns.

Sessions are highly interactive, combining opportunities for self-reflection and practical skill-building through structured activities focused on:

• The four processes of MI
• The Spirit of MI
• Recognizing change and sustain talk
• Understanding "resistance"
• Responding with open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries.