Motivating with Mutuality: An Intro to Motivational Interviewing - Online Course - June 2025
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is more than just a technique — it’s a way of having conversations that honor choice, build connection, and spark hope. In this eight-hour interactive workshop, we’ll explore how the spirit and skills of MI naturally align with core Peer Support values such as mutuality, empowerment, and respect for self-determination. These values benefit anyone who supports others in creating change.
We will learn the foundational tools of Motivational Interviewing, such as asking open ended questions, offering affirmations, listening reflectively, and summarizing conversations. We will also explore how these skills can strengthen trust, collaboration, and motivation in any helping relationship.
To bring these tools to life, we will practice what we learn with Healthcare Theater. Healthcare Theater provides a supportive setting, where we can try out new skills in realistic scenarios. Through discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on activities, we'll leave feeling more confident and equipped to build conversations that inspire growth and honor each person's journey.
This workshop is ideal for Peer Support Specialists, supervisors, service providers, and anyone interested in using Motivational Interviewing to empower others.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe the core principles and spirit of Motivational Interviewing (MI).
- Explain how Motivational Interviewing aligns with peer support values, ethics, and practices.
- Identify and apply the basic Motivational Interviewing skills known as OARS: Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, and Summarizing.
- Recognize the role of ambivalence in the change process and how to support individuals through it without judgment or coercion.
- Demonstrate the use of MI-consistent communication strategies that promote empowerment, collaboration, and respect for personal choice.
- Reflect on their own communication style and identify ways to integrate MI skills into peer support conversations.
Required Live Sessions via Zoom:
Dates: Tuesday, August 19 & Wednesday, August 20
Eastern Time (ET): 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Central Time (CT): 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Mountain Time (MT): 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Pacific Time (PT): 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
If you need to be invoiced for the training or pay by check, please email: [email protected]
If you have general questions about this course, please email: [email protected]
