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Motivational Interviewing Academy 
 
 
  Format & Learning Objectives:

MI Academy offers an intimate, personalized and itensive five-day program of instruction and skill building, starting with an all-day “basic training” on Monday, and followed throughout the week with sessions covering every aspect of acquiring, implementing and practicing this important, evidence-based treatment approach.

All participants will receive a basic MI Academy certification, which includes 18 contact hours for continuing education credit, accredited by NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals.

Those who choose to complete additional “homework” assignments and assessments will receive advanced certification, as well as follow-up skills maintenance and assessment by audio tape later in the year — all features included in the MI Academy registration.
MI Academy students will learn:
  • Three components of the “spirit” of MI and how demonstrating those can increase client motivation
  • Categories of Change and Sustain talk
  • Five ways to respond to resistance talk
  • Six ways to help the client experience dissatisfaction with current “healthy” but risky behaviors
  • How to use the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Scale (MITI) to supervise and provide feedback

Seating Capacity: 50

Schedule of Classes

MONDAY 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - MI Immersion Training
Participants will learn the “basics” of MI, including Stages of Change. Learning objectives will include: MI spirit; categories of change talk; open-ended questions and reflective listening; and affirmations. Homework Assignment: Focus on building reflective listening skills (with optional five- to 10-minute audio tape assessment) and identifying closed-ended questions that may serve as a barrier to successful treatment.

TUESDAY 2:15 - 3:45 p.m. & 4 - 5:30 p.m. - Ambivalence: Decisions in the Balance
Instruction will focus on ambivalence and decision balance, identifying and understanding clients’ Stages of Change, and avoiding “psychological reactance.” Homework Assignment: Explore decision balance talk with a colleague. Why do change and resistance talk “cross” and why does ambivalence increase then decrease? This includes worksheet and short audio tape assessment.

WEDNESDAY 10:15 - 11:45 a.m., 2:15 - 3:45 p.m. & 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. - Rolling with Resistance & MITI
Participants will receive feedback on reflection skill application, homework audio assessments, closed- and open-ended questions and reflections, as well as an introduction to the MI Treatment Integrity scale (MITI). Homework Assignment: List four examples of resistance talk you experience in your clinical setting and write two-three responses for each.

THURSDAY 10:15 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. & 2:15 - 3:45 p.m. - Developing Discrepancy & Reflection
Attendees will receive feedback on decision balance homework audio assessments, and discussion of change talk and resistance talk, and ambivalence. Other topics will include: developing discrepancy; using MITI to consider audio examples and coach counselors; open-ended questions; and reflections. Homework Assignment: written responses worksheet.

FRIDAY 8:30 - 10 a.m. - Ambivalence: Decisions in the Balance
Students will receive coaching in response to examples of resistance talk from Wednesday’s homework and write responses to the Video Assessment of Simulated Encounters (VASE-R).